US12001993B2 - System and methods of electronics sampling to optimize system performance, cost, and confidence levels - Google Patents

Abstract

An IoT sampling system that includes a set of adhesive tape platforms. Each adhesive tape platform has zero or more wireless transducing circuits applied according to a sampling frequency that is based on a predetermined criteria. Each applied wireless transducing circuit further having a predetermined role and on one or more features based on the predetermined criteria.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 63/059,957, titled “SYSTEM AND METHODS OF ELECTRONICS SAMPLING TO OPTIMIZE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE, COST, AND CONFIDENCE LEVELS”, filed Jul. 31, 2020, and incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure generally relates in part to wireless communications networks for industrial internet-of-things (IoT) and more particularly to asset management, including tracking, warehousing, inventorying, and monitoring items, objects, storage containers, and safety devices.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to system and methods of electronics sampling to optimize system performance, cost, and confidence levels by balancing dynamic and stationary configurations.

Wireless node networks traditionally are implemented as centralized or tree-based network topologies in which a small set of nodes are directly linked to each other hierarchically. Star and tree topologies are non-linear data structures that organize objects hierarchically. These topologies consist of a collection of nodes that are connected by edges, where each node contains a value or data, and each node may or may not have a child node. Oftentimes, the nodes of a wireless sensor network are organized hierarchically according to the roles and attributes of the nodes (e.g., communications range, battery life, processor clock rate, etc.). For example, the nodes of a wireless-sensor network may be organized as a hierarchical tree structure with one or more short range, low-power child nodes populating the bottom level of the tree structure, and a high-power master node at a higher level of the tree structure to manage the child nodes.

SUMMARY

An IoT An IoT sampling system that includes a set of adhesive tape platforms. Each adhesive tape platform has zero or more wireless transducing circuits applied according to a sampling frequency that is based on a predetermined criteria. Each applied wireless transducing circuit further has a predetermined role and on one or more features based on the predetermined criteria.

A method that includes an IoT sampling system determining, based on a predetermined criteria, a sampling rate for distributing wireless transducing circuits per one or more platforms of a set of adhesive tape platforms. The method further includes the IoT sampling system applying, based on the determined sampling rate, the wireless transducing circuits to one or more platforms of the set of adhesive tape platforms, each platform having zero or more wireless transducing circuits. The method further includes the IoT sampling system activating the applied wireless transducing circuits. The method further includes the IoT sampling system instructing the wireless transducing circuits to perform a predetermined role. The method further includes the IoT sampling system receiving data collected from the wireless transducing circuits.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, storing a computer instruction, wherein the computer instruction, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform operations, comprising an IoT sampling system determining, based on a predetermined criteria, a sampling rate for distributing wireless transducing circuits per one or more platforms of a set of adhesive tape platforms. The operations further include the IoT sampling system applying, based on the determined sampling rate, the wireless transducing circuits to one or more platforms of the set of adhesive tape platforms, each platform having zero or more wireless transducing circuits. The operations further include the IoT sampling system activating the applied wireless transducing circuits. The operations further include the IoT sampling system instructing the wireless transducing circuits to perform a predetermined role. The operations further include the IoT sampling system receiving data collected from the wireless transducing circuits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG.1 is a schematic view of an example wireless transducing circuit, according to an embodiment.

FIG.2 is a diagrammatic top view of a platform containing an embedded wireless transducing circuit, according to an embodiment.

FIG.3 is a is a diagrammatic view of a segment of an example adhesive tape platform dispensed from a roll used to detect tampering of an asset, according to an embodiment.

FIGS.4A-4C show diagrammatic cross-sectional side views of portions of different respective agents, according to various embodiments.

FIGS.5A-5D show diagrammatic top views of respective portions of examples of different respective flexible adhesive tape platforms, according to embodiments.

FIG.6 shows an assembly line that includes a sampling distribution of wireless transducing circuits applied to packages, according to various embodiments.

FIG.7 shows an example storage container within a facility that includes a number of packages, some of which include a wireless transducing circuit, according to embodiments.

FIG.8 shows a delivery truck with an attached trailer that includes a number of packages, some of which include a wireless transducing circuit, according to embodiments.

FIG.9 is a diagrammatic view of an example of a network environment supporting communications with various agents, according to an embodiment.

FIG.10 is a diagrammatic view of an example of a network environment supporting communications with segments of an adhesive tape platform, according to an embodiment.

FIG.11 is a flowchart of an example process associated with an IoT system determining a sampling rate for applying wireless transducing circuits to platforms of a roll of adhesive tape, according to embodiments.

FIG.12 is a flowchart of an example process associated with an IoT system determining whether to reassign predetermined roles of wireless transducing circuits to satisfy a target data acquisition, according to embodiments.

FIG.13 is a block diagram of an example computer apparatus, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure is not limited in any way to the illustrated embodiments. Instead, the illustrated embodiments described below are merely examples of the disclosure. Therefore, the structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be construed as limiting the claims. The disclosure merely provides bases for the claims and representative examples that enable one skilled in the art to make and use the claimed disclosures. Furthermore, the terms and phrases used herein are intended to provide a comprehensible description of the disclosure without being limiting.

In the following description, like reference numbers are used to identify like elements. Furthermore, the drawings are intended to illustrate major features of exemplary embodiments in a diagrammatic manner. The drawings are not intended to depict every feature of actual embodiments nor relative dimensions of the depicted elements and are not drawn to scale.

As used herein, the term “or” refers an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in the specification and claims mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from the context to refer the singular form.

The term “data object” refers to an addressable data file or a subset thereof.

The term “metadata” include information about data objects or characteristics thereof.

The terms “module,” “manager,” and “unit” refer to hardware, software, or firmware, or a combination thereof.

As used herein, the term “or” refers an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in the specification and claims mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from the context to refer the singular form.

In some contexts, the term “platform” may refer to an adhesive tape with a wireless transducing circuit embedded within, as discussed at least inFIGS.1-4C. The term “dummy platform” may be used to refer to an adhesive tape platform without an embedded wireless transducing circuit or an embedded sensor. For brevity, the terms “platform”, “tape platform”, or “adhesive tape platform” may also be used interchangeably with each other, and with “tape agent”, “tape node”, “agent”, “node”, “intelligent node”, any variant thereof that relates to an adhesive platform that includes a wireless transducing circuit, with or without embedded sensors, etc.

In some contexts, the term “agent” may refer to a “node”, and an “agent” or “node” may be adhesively applied to a surface and denoted as a “tape node” or “tape agent”. These terms may be used interchangeably, depending on the context. Further, the “agent” or “node” may have two forms of hierarchy: one depending on the functionality of the “agent” or “node”, such as the range of a wireless communication interface, and another depending on which “agent” or “node” may control another “agent” or “node”. For example, an agent with a low-power wireless-communication interface may be referred to a “master agent”, an agent with a medium-power wireless communication-interface may be referred to a “secondary agent”, and an agent with a high-power wireless communication-interface may be referred to a “tertiary agent”. In some examples, a secondary agent may also include a low-power wireless-communication interface and a tertiary agent may also include low and medium-power wireless-communication interfaces, as discussed below with reference toFIG.4A-C. Further continuing the example, a “master agent”, a “secondary agent”, or a “tertiary agent” may refer to a “master tape node”, a “secondary tape node”, or a “tertiary tape node”.

With regard to the second form of hierarchy, the “agent”, “node”, “tape agent”, and “tape node”, may be qualified as a parent, child, or master, depending on whether a specific “agent” or “node” controls another “agent” or “node”. For example, a master-parent agent controls the master-child agent and a secondary or tertiary-parent agent controls a master-child agent. The default, without the qualifier of “parent” or “child” is that the master agent controls the secondary or tertiary agent. Further, the “master tape node” may control a “secondary tape node” and a “tertiary tape node”, regardless of whether the master tape node is a parent node.

Further, each of the “tape nodes” or “tape agents” may be referred to as “intelligent nodes”, “intelligent tape nodes”, or “intelligent tape agents” or any variant thereof, depending on the context and, for ease, may be used interchangeably.

In certain contexts, the terms “parcel,” “envelope,” “box,” “package,” “container,” “pallet,” “carton,” “wrapping,” and the like are used interchangeably herein to refer to a packaged item or items.

In some embodiments, a low-power wireless communication interface may have a first wireless range and be operable to implement one or more protocols including Zigbee, near-field communication (NFC), Bluetooth Low Energy, Bluetooth Classic, Wi-Fi, and ultra-wideband. For example, the low-power wireless-communication interface may have a range of between 0 and 300 meters or farther, depending on the implemented protocol. The communication interface implementation, e.g., Zigbee or Bluetooth Low Energy, may be selected based upon the distance of communication between the low-power wireless-communication interface and the recipient, and/or a remaining battery level of the low-power wireless-communication interface.

An agent with a medium-power wireless communication-interface may be referred to as a “secondary agent”. The medium-power wireless communication interface may have a second wireless range and be operable to implement one or more protocols including Zigbee, Bluetooth Low Energy interface, LoRa. For example, the medium-power wireless-communication interface may have a range of between 0 and 20 kilometers. The communication interface implementation, e.g., Zigbee, Bluetooth Low Energy, or LoRa, may be selected based upon the distance of communication between the medium-power wireless-communication interface and the recipient, and/or a remaining battery level of the medium-power wireless-communication interface.

An agent with a high-power wireless communication-interface may be referred to as a “tertiary agent”. The high-power wireless communication interface may have a third wireless range and be operable to implement one or more protocols including Zigbee, Bluetooth Low Energy, LoRa, Global System for Mobile Communication, General Packet Radio Service, cellular, near-field communication, and radio-frequency identification. For example, the high-power wireless-communication interface may have a global range, where the high-power wireless-communication interface may communicate with any electronic device implementing a similar communication protocol. The communication interface protocol selected may depend on the distance of communication between the high-power wireless-communication interface and a recipient, and/or a remaining battery level of the high-power wireless-communication interface.

An adhesive tape platform includes a plurality of segments that may be separated from the adhesive product (e.g., by cutting, tearing, peeling, or the like) and adhesively attached to a variety of different surfaces to inconspicuously implement any of a wide variety of different wireless communications-based network communications and transducing (e.g., sensing, actuating, etc.) applications. Applications may represent one or more of event detection applications, monitoring applications, security applications, notification applications, and tracking applications, including inventory tracking, package tracking, person tracking, animal (e.g., pet) tracking, manufactured parts tracking, and vehicle tracking. In certain embodiments, each segment of an adhesive tape platform has an energy source, wireless communication functionality, transducing functionality (e.g., sensor and energy harvesting functionality), and processing functionality that enable the segment to perform one or more transducing functions and report the results to a remote server (e.g., server1004) or other computer system (e.g., computing system320) directly or through a network (e.g.,network952 or network1000) (e.g., formed by tape nodes and/or other network components). The components of the adhesive tape platform are encapsulated within a flexible adhesive structure that protects the components from damage while maintaining the flexibility needed to function as an adhesive tape (e.g., duct tape or a label) for use in various applications and workflows. In addition to single function applications, example embodiments also include multiple transducers (e.g., sensing and/or actuating transducers) that extend the utility of the platform by, for example, providing supplemental information and functionality relating characteristics of the state and/or environment of, for example, an article, object, vehicle, or person, over time.

Systems and processes for fabricating flexible multifunction adhesive tape platforms in efficient and low-cost ways also are described in US Patent Application Publication No. US-2018-0165568-A1. For example, in addition to using roll-to-roll and/or sheet-to-sheet manufacturing techniques, the fabrication systems and processes are configured to optimize the placement and integration of components within the flexible adhesive structure to achieve high flexibility and ruggedness. These fabrication systems and processes are able to create useful and reliable adhesive tape platforms that may provide local sensing, wireless transmitting, and positioning functionalities. Such functionality together with the low cost of production is expected to encourage the ubiquitous deployment of adhesive tape platform segments and thereby alleviate at least some of the problems arising from gaps in conventional infrastructure coverage that prevent continuous monitoring, event detection, security, tracking, and other logistics applications across heterogeneous environments.

In addition to creating a low-cost method of tracking items utilizing an adhesive surface, embodiments of the present disclosure reduce costs even further by lowering the number of tape agents attached to packages according to a sampling rate, while retaining the necessary information, such as environmental data, from the tape agents.

FIG.1 shows a block diagram of the components of an example wireless transducing circuit10 (e.g., a tape node) that includes one or morewireless communication modules12,14. Eachcommunication module12,14 includes awireless communication circuit13,16, and anantenna15,18, respectively. Eachcommunication circuit13,16 may represent a receiver or transceiver integrated circuit that implements one or more of GSM/GPRS, Wi-Fi, LoRa, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, Z-wave, and ZigBee. Thewireless transducing circuit10 also includes a processor20 (e.g., a microcontroller or microprocessor), a solid-stateatomic clock21, at least one energy store22 (e.g., non-rechargeable or rechargeable printed flexible battery, conventional single or multiple cell battery, and/or a super capacitor or charge pump), one or more sensing transducers24 (e.g., sensors and/or actuators, and, optionally, one or more energy harvesting transducers). In some examples, the conventional single or multiple cell battery may be a watch style disk or button cell battery that is in an associated electrical connection apparatus (e.g., a metal clip) that electrically connects the electrodes of the battery to contact pads on thewireless transducing circuit10.

Sensing transducers24 may represent one or more of a capacitive sensor, an altimeter, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a temperature sensor, a strain sensor, a pressure sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, a weight sensor, an optical or light sensor (e.g., a photodiode or a camera), an acoustic or sound sensor (e.g., a microphone), a smoke detector, a radioactivity sensor, a chemical sensor (e.g., an explosives detector), a biosensor (e.g., a blood glucose biosensor, odor detectors, antibody based pathogen, food, and water contaminant and toxin detectors, DNA detectors, microbial detectors, pregnancy detectors, and ozone detectors), a magnetic sensor, an electromagnetic field sensor, a humidity sensor, a light emitting units (e.g., light emitting diodes and displays), electro-acoustic transducers (e.g., audio speakers), electric motors, and thermal radiators (e.g., an electrical resistor or a thermoelectric cooler).

Wireless transducing circuit10 includes amemory26 for storing data, such as profile data, state data, event data, sensor data, localization data, security data, and/or at least one unique identifier (ID)28 associated with thewireless transducing circuit10, such as one or more of a product ID, a type ID, and a media access control (MAC) ID.Memory26 may also storecontrol code30 that includes machine-readable instructions that, when executed by theprocessor20,cause processor20 to perform one or more autonomous agent tasks. In certain embodiments, thememory26 is incorporated into one or more of theprocessor20 orsensing transducers24. In other embodiments,memory26 is integrated in thewireless transducing circuit10 as shown inFIG.1. Thecontrol code30 may implement programmatic functions or program modules that control operation of thewireless transducing circuit10, including implementation of an agent communication manager that manages the manner and timing of tape agent communications, a node power manager that manages power consumption, and a tape agent connection manager that controls whether connections with other nodes are secure connections (e.g., connections secured by public key cryptography) or unsecure connections, and an agent storage manager that securely manages the local data storage on thewireless transducing circuit10. In certain embodiments, a node connection manager ensures the level of security required by the end application and supports various encryption mechanisms. In some examples, a tape agent power manager and communication manager work together to optimize the battery consumption for data communication. In some examples, execution of the control code by the different types of nodes described herein may result in the performance of similar or different functions.

FIG.2 is a top view of ageneric platform32 for thewireless transducing circuit10. In some embodiments,multiple platforms32 may each contain respective sets of components that are identical and configured in the same way. In other embodiments,multiple platforms32 may each contain respective sets of components that differ and/or are configured in different ways. For example, different ones of theplatforms32 have different sets or configurations of tracking and/or transducing components that are designed and/or optimized for different applications. Also, or alternatively, different sets of segments of theplatform32 may have different ornamentations (e.g., markings on the exterior surface of the platform) and/or different dimensions.

An example method of fabricating the platform32 (with reference toFIG.2) uses to a roll-to-roll fabrication process as described in connection with FIGS. 6, 7A, and 7B of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/842,861, filed Dec. 14, 2017, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In some embodiments, thegeneric platform32 for thewireless transducing circuit10 may be in the form of a cube, cuboid, cylinder, cone, triangular shaped prism, or any three-dimensional shape, of any dimension, that can include the wireless transducing circuits, as described herein, with reference toFIGS.3A-C. For example, thegeneric platform32 may be any form factor. For example, thegeneric platform32 may be in the form of a cube with sides surrounding thewireless transducing circuit10 and any sensors or wireless-communication interfaces. In some embodiments, thewireless transducing circuit10 is embedded within the sides of the three-dimensional shape platform. In some embodiments, the three-dimensional shaped platform is not applied to a package but is configured to plug into an outlet to be used as a permanent power source. In some embodiments, theplatform32 is a sturdy, non-flexible material, in the form of a mailing label, that may be applied to flat surfaces, such as the side of thepackage110. In the embodiments of the two and three-dimensional platforms, any of thesegments40,70, or80 (FIGS.4A-C, respectively) are included in, or integrated into the sides of, the two or three-dimensional platforms.

The instant specification describes an example system of tape agents (also referred to herein as “tapes”) that can be used to implement a low-cost wireless network infrastructure for performing monitoring, tracking, and other industrial internet-of-things (IOT) functions relating to, for example, parcels, persons, tools, equipment and other physical assets and objects. The example system includes a set of three different types of tape agents that have different respective functionalities and different respective cover markings that visually distinguish the different tape agent types from one another. Other systems may include fewer than three or more than three different types of tape nodes. In one non-limiting example, the covers of the different tape agent types are marked with different colors (e.g., white, green, and black). In the illustrated examples, the different tape agent types also are distinguishable from one another by their respective wireless communications capabilities and their respective sensing capabilities. In some embodiments, the markings may be another form of differentiation (such as numbering, names, etc.) than different colors. The markings may also indicate what kind of electronics the tape node includes (e.g., a dummy tape node without any electronics; a tape node with a low, medium, or high-powered wireless-communication interface; a tape node with a wireless-communication interface and a certain type(s) of sensor; etc.).

FIG.3 shows an example adhesive tape-agent platform32, includingwireless transducing circuit10, used to seal apackage110 for shipment. In this example, theplatform32 is dispensed from aroll116 and affixed to thepackage110. Theadhesive platform32 includes anadhesive side118 and anon-adhesive surface120. Theadhesive platform32 may be dispensed from theroll116 in the same way as any conventional packing tape, shipping tape, or duct tape. For example, theadhesive platform32 may be dispensed from theroll116 by hand, laid across the seam where the two top flaps of thepackage110 meet, and cut to a suitable length either by hand or using a cutting instrument (e.g., scissors or an automated or manual tape dispenser). In some embodiments, the adhesive platform may be dispensed from a sheet that includes cutouts defining a perimeter of each of theadhesive platforms32, is in the form of a continuous strip ofadhesive platform32 where each adhesive platform is included in a segment of the strip, or any material capable of holding one or moreadhesive platforms32, such as the two or three-dimensional platforms, as discussed with reference toFIGS.2 and3. In some embodiments, theadhesive platforms32 may be packaged in a stack of single platforms. Examples of such tape agents include tape agents havingnon-adhesive surface120 that carry one or more coatings or layers (e.g., colored, light reflective, light absorbing, and/or light emitting coatings or layers). Further, theplatform32 may include an identifier122 (e.g., a QR code, RFID chip, etc.) that may be used to associate theplatform32 with thepackage110, as discussed below.

In embodiments, eachplatform32 within aroll116 may include thesame identifier122, which may be used by a network (e.g.,network1000,network952, etc.) to categorize eachplatform32 within theroll116 within a database (e.g., database1001). Further, eachplatform32 within theroll116 may include substantially similar features (e.g., temperature sensors, vibration sensors, humidity sensors, a same type of wireless-communication interface, etc.) or may be deployed according to a similar application, such as collecting a same or similar type of environmental data or communication capabilities (e.g., communicating with nearby wireless transducing circuits and/or asatellite960,1070). For example, eachplatform32 may include all of a temperature sensor, a vibration sensor, an antenna or a similar wireless-communications interface, etc. Eachplatform32 may be categorized according to an application, e.g., eachplatform32 within theroll116 may be used to determine a temperature within a facility. To reduce cost, some platforms may have temperature sensors and a communications interface; someplatforms32 may be able to collect temperature data in an area proximate to anotherplatform32 that does not have a temperature sensor but does have a wireless-communication interface. This way, the network may request a temperature reading from theplatform32 without a temperature sensor, and theplatform32 can request temperature data from theplatform32 with a temperature sensor.

In some embodiments, aroll116 may be customizable. For example, customized rolls may be prefabricated according to a smart vendor system, where a client application (e.g., theclient application966,1022) receives a predetermined criteria (such as shipping route data, type of environmental data for collection, a confidence level of having a wireless transducing circuit in a location capable of collecting the inputted environmental data, etc.) and then a customized roll is produced based on the received criteria. In some embodiments, the customized roll may be produced at a shipping facility (e.g., shipping facility) or at a remote location. For example, an authenticated user (e.g., the authenticated user622) may input their desired predetermined criteria to a client application, for a customized roll to be produced. In some embodiments, the roll may be a standard roll with a set number of wireless transducing circuits applied toplatforms32 of aroll116.

In some embodiments, as discussed above with reference toFIG.2, thegeneric platform32 for thewireless transducing circuit10 is not in the form of an adhesive, flexible platform but in the form of a three-dimensional shape, of any dimension, that can include the wireless transducing circuits, as described herein, with reference toFIGS.3A-C. For example, thegeneric platform32 does not come from theroll116 but in the form of a single stack ofplatforms32 and comprises a non-flexible platform that can be applied to the side of thepackage110. In some embodiments, the three-dimensional shaped platform is not applied to a package but is configured to plug into an outlet to be used as a permanent power source and is configured to include awireless transducing circuit10 with any of a low, medium, or high-powered wireless transducing circuit and/or sensor (e.g., temperature sensor, vibration sensor, humidity sensor, etc.).

FIG.4A shows a cross-sectional side view of a portion of anexample segment40 of a flexible adhesive tape agent platform (e.g.,platform32,FIG.2,3) that includes a respective set of the components of thewireless transducing circuit10 corresponding to the first tape-agent type (e.g., white). Thesegment40 includes anadhesive layer42, an optionalflexible substrate44, and anoptional adhesive layer46 on the bottom surface of theflexible substrate44. When thebottom adhesive layer46 is present, a release liner (not shown) may be (weakly) adhered to the bottom surface of theadhesive layer46. In certain embodiments whereadhesive layer46 is included, theadhesive layer46 is an adhesive (e.g., an acrylic foam adhesive) with a high-bond strength that is sufficient to prevent removal of thesegment40 from a surface on which theadhesive layer46 is adhered to without destroying the physical or mechanical integrity of thesegment40 and/or one or more of its constituent components. In certain embodiments including the optionalflexible substrate44, the optionalflexible substrate44 is a prefabricated adhesive tape that includes theadhesive layers42 and46 and the optional release liner. In other embodiments including the optionalflexible substrate44, theadhesive layers42,46 are applied to the top and bottom surfaces of theflexible substrate44 during the fabrication of the adhesive tape platform. Theadhesive layer42 may bond theflexible substrate44 to a bottom surface of aflexible circuit48, that includes one or more wiring layers (not shown) that connect theprocessor50, a low-power wireless-communication interface52 (e.g., a Zigbee, Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) interface, or other low power communication interface), a clock and/or atimer circuit54, transducing and/or transducer(s)56 (if present), thememory58, and other components in adevice layer60 to each other and to theenergy storage device62 and, thereby, enable the transducing, tracking and other functionalities of thesegment40. The low-power wireless-communication interface52 typically includes one or more of theantennas15,18 and one or more of thewireless communication circuits13,16. Thesegment40 may further include aflexible cover90, aninterfacial region92, and aflexible polymer layer94.

FIG.4B shows a cross-sectional side-view of a portion of anexample segment70 of a flexible adhesive tape agent platform (e.g.,platform32 ofFIG.2,3) that includes a respective set of the components of thewireless transducing circuit10 corresponding to a second tape-agent type (e.g., green). Thesegment70 is similar to thesegment40 shown inFIG.4A but further includes a medium-power communication-interface72′ (e.g., a LoRa interface) in addition to the low-power communications-interface52. The medium-power communication-interface72′ has a longer communication range than the low-power communication-interface52′. In certain embodiments, one or more other components of thesegment70 differ from thesegment40 in functionality or capacity (e.g., larger energy source). Thesegment70 may include further components, as discussed above and below with reference toFIGS.4A and4C.

FIG.4C shows a cross-sectional side view of a portion of anexample segment80 of the flexible adhesive tape-agent platform that includes a respective set of the components of thewireless transducing circuit10 corresponding to the third tape-node type (e.g., black). Thesegment80 is similar to thesegment70 ofFIG.4B, but further includes a high-power communications-interface82″ (e.g., a cellular interface; e.g., GSM/GPRS) in addition to a low-power communications-interface52″, and may include a medium-power communications-interface72″. The high-power communications-interface82″ has a range that provides global coverage to available infrastructure (e.g. the cellular network). In certain embodiments, one or more other components of thesegment80 differ from thesegment70 in functionality or capacity (e.g., larger energy source). The segment includes further components, as discussed above with reference toFIGS.4A, and4B.

FIGS.4A-4C show embodiments in which the flexible covers90,90′,90″ of therespective segments40,70, and80 include one or moreinterfacial regions92,92′,92″ positioned over one or more of thetransducers56,56′,56″. In certain embodiments, one or more of theinterfacial regions92,92′,92″ have features, properties, compositions, dimensions, and/or characteristics that are designed to improve the operating performance of the platform for specific applications. In certain embodiments, the flexible adhesive tape platform includes multipleinterfacial regions92,92′,92″ overrespective transducers56,56′,56″, which may be the same or different depending on the target applications. Interfacial regions may represent one or more of an opening, an optically transparent window, and/or a membrane located in theinterfacial regions92,92′,92″ of the flexible covers90,90′,90″ that is positioned over the one or more transducers and/ortransducers56,56′,56″. Additional details regarding the structure and operation of exampleinterfacial regions92,92′,92″ are described in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/680,716, filed Jun. 5, 2018, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/670,712, filed May 11, 2018.

In certain embodiments, aplanarizing polymer94,94′,94″ encapsulates the respective device layers60,60′,60″ and thereby reduces the risk of damage that may result from the intrusion of contaminants and/or liquids (e.g., water) into thedevice layer60,60′,60″. The flexible polymer layers94,94′,94″ may also planarize the device layers60,60′,60″. This facilitates optional stacking of additional layers on the device layers60,60′,60″ and also distributes forces generated in, on, or across thesegments40,70,80 so as to reduce potentially damaging asymmetric stresses that might be caused by the application of bending, torquing, pressing, or other forces that may be applied to thesegments40,70,80 during use. In the illustrated example, aflexible cover90,90′,90″ is bonded to theplanarizing polymer94,94′,94″ by an adhesive layer (not shown).

Theflexible cover90,90′,90″ and theflexible substrate44,44′,44″ may have the same or different compositions depending on the intended application. In some examples, one or both of theflexible cover90,90′,90″ and theflexible substrate44,44′,44″ include flexible film layers and/or paper substrates, where the film layers may have reflective surfaces or reflective surface coatings. Compositions for the flexible film layers may represent one or more of polymer films, such as polyester, polyimide, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and other plastics. The optional adhesive layer on the bottom surface of theflexible cover90,90′,90″ and theadhesive layers42,42′,42″,46,46′,46″ on the top and bottom surfaces of theflexible substrate44,44′,44″ typically include a pressure-sensitive adhesive (e.g., a silicon-based adhesive). In some examples, the adhesive layers are applied to theflexible cover90,90′,90″ and theflexible substrate44,44′,44″ during manufacture of the adhesive tape-agent platform (e.g., during a roll-to-roll or sheet-to-sheet fabrication process). In other examples, theflexible cover90,90′,90″ may be implemented by a prefabricated single-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape and theflexible substrate44,44′,44″ may be implemented by a prefabricated double-sided pressure-sensitive adhesive tape; both kinds of tape may be readily incorporated into a roll-to-roll or sheet-to-sheet fabrication process. In some examples, theflexible substrate44,44′,44″ is composed of a flexible epoxy (e.g., silicone).

In certain embodiments, theenergy storage device62,62′,62″ is a flexible battery that includes a printed electrochemical cell, which includes a planar arrangement of an anode and a cathode and battery contact pads. In some examples, the flexible battery may include lithium-ion cells or nickel-cadmium electro-chemical cells. The flexible battery typically is formed by a process that includes printing or laminating the electro-chemical cells on a flexible substrate (e.g., a polymer film layer). In some examples, other components may be integrated on the same substrate as the flexible battery. For example, the low-power wireless-communication interface52,52′,52″ and/or the processor(s)50,50′,50″ may be integrated on the flexible battery substrate. In some examples, one or more of such components also (e.g., the flexible antennas and the flexible interconnect circuits) may be printed on the flexible battery substrate.

In examples of manufacture, theflexible circuit48,48′,48″ is formed on a flexible substrate by one or more of printing, etching, or laminating circuit patterns on the flexible substrate. In certain embodiments, theflexible circuit48,48′,48″ is implemented by one or more of a single-sided flex circuit, a double access or back-bared flex circuit, a sculpted flex circuit, a double-sided flex circuit, a multi-layer flex circuit, a rigid flex circuit, and a polymer-thick film flex circuit. A single-sided flexible circuit has a single conductor layer made of, for example, a metal or conductive (e.g., metal filled) polymer on a flexible dielectric film. A double access or back bared flexible circuit has a single conductor layer but is processed so as to allow access to selected features of the conductor pattern from both sides. A sculpted flex circuit is formed using a multi-step etching process that produces a flex circuit that has finished copper conductors that vary in thickness along their respective lengths. A multilayer flex circuit has three of more layers of conductors, where the layers typically are interconnected using plated through holes. Rigid flex circuits are a hybrid construction of flex circuit consisting of rigid and flexible substrates that are laminated together into a single structure, where the layers typically are electrically interconnected via plated through holes. In polymer thick film (PTF) flex circuits, the circuit conductors are printed onto a polymer base film, where there may be a single conductor layer or multiple conductor layers that are insulated from one another by respective printed insulating layers.

In theexample segments40,70,80 shown inFIGS.4A-4C, theflexible circuit48,48′,48″ represents a single-access flex-circuit that interconnects the components of the adhesive tape platform on a single side of theflexible circuit48,48′,48″. However, in other embodiments, theflexible circuit48,48′,48″ represents a double access flex circuit that includes a front-side conductive pattern that interconnects the low-power communications interface52,52′,52″, thetimer circuit54,54′,54″, theprocessor50,50′,50″, the one ormore sensor transducers56,56′,56″ (if present), and thememory58,58′,58″, and allows through-hole access (not shown) to a back-side conductive pattern that is connected to the flexible battery (not shown). In these embodiments, the front-side conductive pattern of theflexible circuit48,48′,48″ connects thecommunications circuits52,52′,52″,72′,72″,82″ (e.g., receivers, transmitters, and transceivers) to their respective antennas and to theprocessor50,50′,50″ and also connects theprocessor50,50′,50″ to the one or more sensors and thememory58,58′, and58″. The backside conductive pattern connects the active electronics (e.g., theprocessor50,50′,50″, thecommunications circuits52,52′,52″,72′,72″,82″ and the transducers) on the front-side of theflexible circuit48,48′,48″ to the electrodes of theenergy storage device62,62′,62″ via one or more through holes in the substrate of theflexible circuit48,48′,48″.

Electronics Sampling

Embodiments of the present disclosure include electronics sampling to optimize system performance, cost, and confidence levels by balancing dynamic and stationary configurations without master-slave interactions.

Thewireless transducing circuits10 described herein may be used in a wide variety of different applications, including logistics, sensing, tracking, positioning, warehousing, parking, safety, construction, event detection, road management and infrastructure, security, and healthcare. In some examples, theplatforms32 are used in various aspects of logistics management, including sealing packages, transporting packages, tracking packages, monitoring the conditions of packages, inventorying packages, and verifying package security. In these examples, the sealed packages typically are transported from one location to another by truck, train, ship, or aircraft.

Depending on the target application, thewireless transducing circuits10 are distributed acrossmultiple platforms32 according to a specified sampling density, which is the number ofwireless transducing circuits10 for a given unit size (e.g., length or area) of the set ofplatforms32. In some embodiments, a set ofplatforms32 include different respective sampling densities ofwireless transducing circuits10 to seal different package sizes with a desired number ofwireless transducing circuits10. In some embodiments, the set ofplatforms32 including different respective sampling densities ofwireless transducing circuits10 may not be used to seal packages. In embodiments, the number ofwireless transducing circuits10 per package size is given by the product of the sampling density specified for theplatform32 and the respective size of theplatform32 needed to seal the package. This allows an automated packaging system to select the appropriate type ofplatform32 to use for sealing a given package with the desired redundancy (if any) in the number ofwireless transducer circuits10. In some embodiments, such as shipping low value goods, only onewireless transducing circuit10 is used per package, if any, whereas in other applications (e.g., shipping high value goods) multiplewireless transducing circuits10 are used per package. Thus, aplatform32 with a lower sampling density ofwireless transducing circuits10 can be used for the former application, and aplatform32 with a higher sampling density ofwireless transducing circuits10 can be used for the latter application. In some examples, theplatforms32 are color-coded or otherwise marked to indicate the respective sampling densities with which thewireless transducing circuits10 are distributed across the different types ofplatforms32.

Some logistics applications do not require tracking and/or sensor data for every package shipped. Instead, sufficient information for decision-making can be obtained by collecting data from a sample of the packages shipped. In embodiments, a substantial reduction in shipping costs can be realized by selecting a sampling density of the deployedwireless transducing circuits10 that achieves a target tracked package sampling rate that is less than unity. Similarly, a sampling density of less than unity may be selected for functionality that collected environmental data, such as temperature sensors, vibration sensors, etc. In these embodiments, some packages would not be tracked, monitored, or used to collect environmental data. However, the sample size can be selected to be sufficient to make inferences about the total population of packages shipped, and their surrounding environment, with a desired level of accuracy.

For example,FIG.5A shows an example length of a set ofplatforms32 in which the sampling density is 0.5 (i.e., one wireless transducing circuit per two-unit lengths540 of the platform32). In this example, assuming the unit length corresponds to the length of theplatform32 needed to seal a package (e.g., package110) and theplatform32 is cut along the dashed lines, half of the packages would be sealed with a length of theplatform32 that includeswireless transducing circuits10, while the other half of the packages would be sealed with a platform32 (dummy platform) that does not include awireless transducing circuit10.

FIG.5B shows an example length of theplatform32 in which the sampling density is one-third (i.e., one wireless transducing circuit per three-unit lengths542 of the platform32). In this example, assuming the unit length corresponds to the length of theplatform32 to seal a package and theplatform32 is cut along the dashed lines, one third of the packages would be sealed with a length of theplatform32 that includeswireless transducing circuits10, while the remaining two-thirds of the packages would be sealed with a platform32 (dummy platform) that does not include awireless transducing circuit10.

FIG.5C shows an example length of theplatform32 in which the sampling density is 0.25 (i.e., one wireless transducing circuit per four-unit lengths544 of the platform32). In this example, assuming the unit length corresponds to the length of theplatform32 needed to seal a package and theplatform32 is cut along the dashed lines, one fourth of the packages be sealed with a length of theplatform32 that includeswireless transducing circuits10, while the remaining three-fourths of the packages would be sealed with a platform32 (dummy platform) that does not include awireless transducing circuit10.

FIG.5D shows an example length of theplatform32 in which the sampling rate of thewireless transducing circuits10 are pseudo randomly distributed along the length of theplatform32 according to a probability distribution (e.g., a Nyquist distribution, etc.). Assuming the unit length corresponds to the length of theplatform32 needed to seal a package and theplatform32 is cut along the dashed lines, one half of the packages would be sealed with a length of theplatform32 that includeswireless transducing circuits10, while the remaining half of the packages would be sealed with a platform32 (dummy platform) that does not include awireless transducing circuit10.

In some embodiments, unlikeFIGS.5A-5D, the plurality of wireless transducing circuits is distributed to everyplatform32 of the continuous set of platforms. In this embodiment, the components (e.g., sensors and wireless-communication interfaces) of thewireless transducing circuits10 may vary periodically. For example, every fifth wireless transducing circuit may include a temperature sensor; every thirdwireless transducing circuit10 may include a vibration sensor; every tenthwireless transducing circuit10 may include a low-power wireless-communications interface; etc. Further, the network service application (e.g.,network service application962,1008) can request certain environmental data, such as temperature data, vibration data, etc. from the wireless transducing circuits that include the respective sensors.

In the examples shown inFIGS.5A-5D, a plurality ofwireless transducing circuits10 is distributed across the continuous set ofplatforms32 according to a respective sampling density. Eachwireless transducing circuit10 includes an antenna (e.g.,antennas15,18), a wireless communications circuit (e.g.,communications circuits13,16) coupled to the antenna, a transducer (e.g., sensing transducer24), a controller electrically connected to the wireless communications circuit and the transducer, and an energy source (e.g., energy store22) connected to the controller, the transducer, and the wireless communications circuit. In some embodiments, thewireless transducing circuits10 are uniform in function and composition. In some embodiments, the sampling density is the density ofwireless transducing circuits10 as a function of a unit size of the continuous set ofplatform32. In some embodiments, thewireless transducing circuits10 are interspersed among regions of the set ofplatforms32 that are free of any wireless transducing circuits. In some embodiments, thewireless transducing circuits10 are interspersed among the regions of the set ofplatforms32 that are free of anywireless transducing circuits10 according to a linear sampling density. In some embodiments, each of the regions of the set ofplatforms32 that are free of anywireless transducing circuits10 is free of active electrical components (e.g., dummy platforms). In other embodiments, thewireless transducing circuits10 are interspersed among the regions of the set ofplatforms32 that are free of anywireless transducing circuits10 according to a real sampling density. In some embodiments, thewireless transducing circuits10 are distributed at regular intervals along thecontinuous platform32. In some embodiments, thewireless transducing circuits10 are distributed across the set ofplatforms32 according to a probability distribution. In some embodiments, the set ofplatforms32 is carried on a cylindrical tape core. In some embodiments, the regions of thecontinuous platform32 that includewireless transducing circuits10 are visually indistinguishable from other regions of thecontinuous platform32.

In some embodiments, multiple different types ofplatforms32 are bundled together and packaged as a set (e.g., roll116). In these embodiments, the set ofplatforms32 typically are carried on respective cylindrical tape cores and include respective pluralities ofwireless transducing circuits10 distributed across therespective platforms32 according to respective sampling densities at least two of which are different. In some embodiments, afirst platform32 in the set includes a backing that includes a first visible marking and asecond platform32 includes a backing that includes a second visible marking that is different from the first visible marking. In some examples, the first andsecond platforms32 are color-coded differently (e.g., the backing of different tape platforms are different respective colors).

In some embodiments, theplatforms32 are used to monitor packages. In accordance with one example, unit-size portions of a set ofplatforms32 are dispensed, where the set ofplatforms32 includes a plurality ofwireless transducing circuits10 distributed across the platform according to a sampling density ofwireless transducing circuits10 as a function of the unit size portions of the set ofplatforms32 and the sampling density is less than 1. The dispensed portion of the set ofplatforms32 is affixed to seal a package (e.g., package110). A network node of a network service (e.g., thenetwork service954 of an inventory management system and/or network1000) establishes a wireless connection with thewireless transducing circuit10 in the affixed dispensed portion of set ofplatforms32. Based on a successful establishment of the wireless connection with thewireless transducing circuit10, a unique identifier (e.g., identifier122) of thewireless transducing circuit10 and transducer data from thewireless transducing circuit10 are obtained. The obtained transducer data is reported in association with the unique identifier to a network node of a network service (e.g., thenetwork service954 of an inventory management system or network1000). In some examples, the obtained transducer data includes geographic location data. In some examples the obtained transducer data includes sensor data characterizing ambient conditions (e.g., temperature data, vibration data, humidity data, etc.) in the vicinity of the dispensed portion of the set ofplatforms32.

Because battery power is finite and the power needs of anyparticular platform32 generally is unknown, some examples of theplatform32 are preconfigured in a power-off state and remain in the power-off state until a predetermined event occurs. In some cases, the predetermined event indicates that theplatform32 has been deployed for use in the field. Example events include cutting anindividual platform32 from a roll (e.g., roll116), bending theplatform32 as it is being peeled off of the roll, separating theplatform32 from a backing sheet, and detecting a change in state of theplatform32 or its environment. In some examples, a label is affixed to packaging containing thecontinuous platform32, where the label has markings (e.g., text and/or bar code) that include an indication of the sampling density ofwireless transducing circuit10 as a function of a unit size of the set ofplatforms32. In some examples, the unit size corresponds to a length dimension; in other examples the unit size corresponds to an aerial dimension.

In some of theplatforms32, there are no wireless transducing circuits10 (i.e., there are no electronics in the tapes); this may be referred to a dummy platform. In some embodiments, one out of five assets may have electronics (e.g., awireless transducing circuit10 or portions thereof, such as only the wireless-communications interface) in theplatform32 to determine a confidence level of the assessments. Instead of paying to include awireless transducing circuit10 in everyplatform32, attached to an asset, awireless transducing circuit10 may be included in one attachedplatform32 out of every five. In some embodiments, somewireless transducing circuits10 may include a portion of the units, e.g., an antenna, temperature sensor, etc. In embodiments, the electronics of eachplatform32 may be different but physical appearance of theplatform32 may be nearly identical.

The aforementioned embodiments of applyingindividual platforms32, from a set of platforms, topackages110, according to a sampling rate, may begin in a manufacturing or shipping warehouse (FIG.6), and the tracking and monitoring of the environmental factors surrounding the packages may continue on a path of travel for each package, such as within a delivery truck (FIG.7) and at an intermediary shipping facility (FIG.8).

FIG.6 shows an example of applying theroll116 with a set ofplatforms32 in which the sampling density is 0.5, as discussed inFIG.5A, to packages102-106 within a manufacturing plant. As can be seen, an authorizeduser622 may be moderating the application of the set ofplatforms32 to packages102-106. In embodiments, the authorized user may have a client device (e.g., client device958) that includes an application (e.g., client application66) having a display (e.g., display968) that shows a sampling rate for a particular set of packages and a corresponding roll (e.g., roll116). Each package102-106 includes aplatform32 and a correspondingunique identifier122, which may be used by a network (e.g.,network952 and/or network1000) to categorize eachplatform32 within theroll116. Thepackages102,106 have been sealed using aplatform32 that include awireless transducing circuit10, while thepackage104 has been sealed using a platform32 (dummy platform) that does not include awireless transducing circuit10. In some embodiments, thepackages102,106 may includeplatforms32 with embedded sensors, such as temperature sensors, vibration sensors, etc. In some embodiments, there may not be a noticeable difference between theplatforms32 onpackages102,106 and the dummy platform onpackage104. For example, the area of theplatform32 where thewireless transducing circuit10 is located may be covered in a material that obfuscates thewireless transducing circuit10.

FIG.7 shows ashipping container702 ofpackages110 within a facility704 (e.g., a shipping center). Thepackages110 each haveplatforms32 attached thereto according to a sampling rate determined according to a predetermined criteria, discussed below. Aplatform34 may be attached to theshipping container702 and may include awireless transducing circuit10 with an embedded wireless-communications interface that is of a higher power than a wireless-communications interface ofplatforms32 attached topackages110. For example, the wireless transducing unit of theplatforms32 attached to thepackages110 may be a master agent, as discussed above, with a low-power wireless-communications interface (e.g., low-power wireless-communications interface52); and the wireless transducing circuits of theplatform34 attached to the shipping container may be a secondary or tertiary agent, as discussed above, that includes a low, medium, and/or high-power wireless-communications interface (e.g., low, medium, and/or high-power wireless-communications interface52,52′,52″,72′,72″,82″), with communication capabilities to communicate with the network (e.g.,network952 and/or network1000) and the wireless transducing circuit within theplatform32. In this embodiment, if thepackages110 within the shipping container stay together throughout delivery, the sampling rate ofplatforms32 that include a wireless transducing circuit that includes a low-power wireless-communication interface may be one or two per the group ofpackages110 within theshipping container702. Only oneplatform32 that includes a low-power wireless-communication interface is necessary for determining the location of the group ofpackages110 or theshipping container702.

Similarly, only one, or very few, temperature sensor, vibration sensor, etc. is necessary to collect particular environmental data surrounding or within theshipping container702. For example, aplatform32 may include a wireless-communications interface and a temperature sensor and theplatform34 may include a wireless-communications interface. To transmit the temperature of theshipping container702 to the network, the wireless-communication interface of theplatform34 may receive an instruction to collect temperature data of theshipping container702. Theplatform34 may instruct theplatform32 to collect temperature data and then transmit the temperature data to theplatform34. Theplatform34 may then transmit the temperature data to the network.

FIG.8 shows adelivery truck802 with apallet806 ofpackages110 located in atrailer804. Thepackages110 are sealed withplatforms32 according to a sampling rate, based on a predetermined criteria, discussed below. In some embodiments, theplatforms32 do not seal thepackages110 but are adhesively applied to thepackages110. Theplatform32 may be a master agent, as discussed above, with a low-power wireless-communications interface (e.g., low-power wireless-communications interface52); aplatform36, attached to thepallet806, may be a secondary or tertiary agent and include a wireless transducing unit with a medium and/or high-power wireless-communications interface (e.g., low, medium, and/or high-power wireless-communications interface52,52′,52″,72′,72″,82″), with communication capabilities of communicating with a network (e.g.,network952 and/or network1000) and the wireless transducing circuit within theplatform32.

In embodiments, thetrailer804 may be air conditioned to preserve perishable goods, within thepackages110, that are sensitive to temperature. If thepackages110 on thepallet806 stay together throughout delivery, only one, or few, temperature sensors embedded within theplatforms32 or theplatform36 is necessary to collect temperature data for an accurate measurement of temperature within thetrailer804. Likewise for vibration data, humidity data, etc. within thetrailer804. Similar to the embodiment discussed inFIG.7,platform32 may include a wireless-communications interface and a temperature sensor, and theplatform36 may include a wireless-communications interface. To transmit the temperature of thetrailer804 to the network, the wireless-communication interface of theplatform36 may receive an instruction from the network (e.g., thenetwork1000,952) to collect temperature data of thetrailer804. Theplatform36 may instruct theplatform32 to collect temperature data and then transmit the temperature data to theplatform36. Theplatform34 may then transmit the temperature data to the network.

In embodiments, with reference toFIGS.7 and8, there may be set ofshipping containers702 or a set ofpallets806, respectively, that stay together during the physical route. In this case, eachshipping container702 may include aplatform34 along with apackage110 within theshipping container702 sealed with aplatform32; and eachpallet806 may include aplatform36 along with apackage110 on thepallet806 sealed with aplatform32. Or, because there is a high likelihood that theshipping containers702 and thepallets806 are going to stay together throughout the physical route, there may be asingle shipping container702 having aplatform34 along with apackage110 inside with aplatform32; and asingle pallet806 having aplatform36 along with apackage110 with aplatform32. Any permutation taking inputs, such as environmental conditions, physical route, value of assets, etc. may be considered for a sampling rate.

FIG.9 shows anexample network environment950 that includes anetwork952 that supports communications between anetwork service954,communications equipment956, and a client device958 (e.g., a laptop, smart phone, etc. of an authorized user622). Thenetwork952 includes one or more network communication systems and technologies, including any one or more of wide area networks, local area networks, public networks (e.g., the internet), private networks (e.g., intranets and extranets), wired networks, and wireless networks. Thecommunications equipment956 includes any one or more of (i)satellite960 based tracking systems (e.g., GPS, GLONASS, and NAVSTAR) that transmit geolocation data that can be received by suitably equipped receivers in segments of the adhesive tape platform32 (FIG.2,3,6-8), (ii) cellular based systems that use mobile communication technologies (e.g., GSM, GPRS, CDMA, etc.) to implement one or more cell-based localization techniques, and (iii)communications equipment956, such as wireless access points (e.g., Wi-Fi nodes, Bluetooth nodes, ZigBee nodes, etc.) and other shorter range localization technologies (e.g., ultrasonic localization and/or dead reckoning based on motion sensor measurements). For example, the segmentswireless transducing circuits10 may include the high-power wireless-communication interface82″,FIG.3C, and receive the geolocation data from thesatellite960. From there, thewireless transducing circuit10 that includes the high-power wireless-communication interface82″ may transmit the received geolocation data, or any other signals transmitted from thesatellite960, to wireless transducing circuits with high-power wireless-communication interfaces82″, medium-power wireless-communication interfaces72″,72 and/or low-power wireless-communication interface52″,52′,52. In some embodiments, the satellite transmits the geolocation data, or any other type of data, to the medium-power wireless-communication interfaces72″,72 and/or low-power wireless-communication interface52″,52′,52.

As explained in detail below, location data for one ormore platforms32 that include awireless transducing circuit10 can be obtained using one or more of the communications systems and technologies described above.

For example, a segment (e.g.,segments40,70,80,FIGS.3A-C) of aplatform32 that includes a GPS receiver (e.g.,wireless communication circuits13,16,FIG.1) is operable to receive location data (e.g., geolocation data) from the Global Positioning System (GPS). In this process, theplatform32 periodically monitors signals from multiple GPS satellites (e.g., satellite960). Each signal contains information about the time the signal was transmitted and the position of thesatellite960 at the time of transmission. Based on the location and time information for each of four or more satellites, the GPS receiver determines the geolocation of theplatform32 and the offset of its internal clock (e.g.,atomic clock21,clock54,54′,54″) from true time. Depending on its configuration, theplatform32 can either forward the received GPS location data to thenetwork service954 to determine its geolocation, or first compute geolocation coordinates from the received GPS location data and report the computed geolocation coordinates to thenetwork service954. However, theplatform32 can only determine its GPS location when it is able to receive signals from at least fourGPS satellites960 at the same time. As a result, GPS localization typically is limited or unavailable in urban environments and indoor locations.

Instead of or in addition to GPS localization, aplatform32 can be configured to determine or assist in determining its location using terrestrial positioning techniques. For example, Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) techniques may be used to determine the location of aplatform32. These techniques include, for example, fingerprint matching, trilateration, and triangulation. In an example RSSI fingerprinting process, one or more predetermined radio maps of a target area are compared to geo-reference RSSI fingerprints that are obtained from measurements of at least three wireless signal sources (e.g., cellular towers or wireless access points) in the target area to ascertain the location of theplatform32. The predetermined radio maps typically are stored in a database that is accessible by thenetwork service954. In example RSSI triangulation and trilateration processes, the location of aplatform32 can be determined from measurements of signals transmitted from at least three omnidirectional wireless signal sources (e.g., cellular towers or wireless access points). Examples of the triangulation and trilateration localization techniques may involve use of one or more of time of arrival (TOA), angle of arrival (AOA), time difference of arrival (TDOA), and uplink-time difference of arrival (U-TDOA) techniques. RSSI fingerprint matching, trilateration, and triangulation techniques can be used with cellular and wireless access points that are configured to communicate with any of a variety of different communication standards and protocols, including GSM, CDMA, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), LoRa, ZigBee, Z-wave, and RF.

In some examples, aplatform32 that includes a GSM/GPRS transceiver can scan GSM frequency bands for signals transmitted from one or more GSM cellular towers. For each signal received by theplatform32, theplatform32 can determine the signal strength and the identity of the cellular tower that transmitted the signal. Theplatform32 can send the signal strength and transmitter identifier to thenetwork service954 to determine the location of theplatform32. If signal strength and transmitter identifier is available from only one cellular tower, thenetwork service954 can use nearest neighbor localization techniques to determine the location of theplatform32. If signal strength and transmitter identifier is received from two or more cellular towers, thenetwork service954 can use localization techniques, such as fingerprint matching, trilateration, and triangulation, to calculate the position of theplatform32.

In some examples, aplatform32 that includes a Wi-Fi (Wireless-Fidelity) transceiver can scan Wi-Fi frequency bands for signals transmitted from one or more Wi-Fi access points. For each signal received by theplatform32, theplatform32 can determine the signal strength and the identity of the access point that transmitted the signal. Theplatform32 can send the signal strength and transmitter identifier information to thenetwork service954 to determine the location of theplatform32. If signal strength and transmitter identifier information is available from only one Wi-Fi access point, thenetwork service954 can use nearest neighbor localization techniques to determine a location of theplatform32. If signal strength and transmitter identifier information is received from two or more Wi-Fi access points, thenetwork service954 can use localization techniques, such as trilateration, and triangulation, to calculate the position of aplatform32. RSSI fingerprint matching also can be used to determine the location of theplatform32 in areas (e.g., indoor and outdoor locations, such as malls, warehouses, airports, and shipping ports) for which one or more radio maps have been generated.

In some examples, the wireless transceiver in theplatform32 can transmit a wireless signal (e.g., a Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy, LoRa, ZigBee, Z-wave, and/or RF signal) that includes the identifier of theplatform32. The wireless signal can function as a beacon that can be detected by a mobile computing device (e.g., a mobile phone) that is suitably configured to ascertain the location of the source of the beacon. In some examples, a user (e.g., an authorizeduser622 affiliated with the network service954) may use the mobile computing device to transmit a signal into an area (e.g., a warehouse) that includes the identifier of atarget platform32 and configures thetarget platform32 to begin emitting the wireless beacon signal. In some examples, thetarget platform32 will not begin emitting the wireless beacon signal until the user/operator self-authenticates with thenetwork service954.

Thenetwork service954 includes one or more computing resources (e.g., server computers) that can be located in the same or different geographic locations. The network service may execute one or more of a variety of different applications, including event detection applications, monitoring applications, security applications, notification applications, and tracking/positioning applications.

In one example, thenetwork service954 executes apositioning application962 to determine the locations of activated platforms32 (e.g., theplatforms32 within theshipping container702 or the trailer804). In some examples, based on execution of thepositioning application962, thenetwork service954 receives location data from one or more of theplatforms32. In some examples, thenetwork service954 processes the data received fromplatforms32 to determine the physical locations of theplatform32. For example, theplatform32 may be configured to obtain positioning information from signals received from a satellite system (e.g., GPS, GLONASS, and NAVSTAR), cell towers, or wireless access points, and send the positioning information to thenetwork service954 to ascertain the physical locations of theplatforms32 and corresponding assets theplatforms32 are attached thereto. In other examples, theplatforms32 are configured to ascertain their respective physical locations from the signals received from a satellite system (e.g., GPS, GLONASS, and NAVSTAR), cell towers, or wireless access points, and to transmit their respective physical locations to thenetwork service954. In either or both cases, thenetwork service954 typically stores the positioning information and/or the determined physical location for eachplatform32 in association with the respective unique identifier (e.g., the identifier122) of theplatform32. The stored data may be used by thenetwork service954 to determine time, location, and state (e.g., sensor based), or environmental information about theplatform32 and the objects or persons to which theplatform32 are attached. Examples of such information include tracking the environmental conditions surrounding (e.g., temperature, humidity, movement, vibration, etc.) or state of the current location of aplatform32, determining the physical route traveled by theplatform32 over time, and ascertaining stopover locations and durations.

As shown inFIG.9, theclient device958 includes aclient application966 and adisplay968. Theclient application966 establishes sessions with thenetwork service954 during which the client application obtains information regarding the states (e.g., locations), environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, etc.), and events (e.g., shipping information, such as rest point in shipping centers, etc.) relating to theplatform32. In some examples, an authorized user (e.g., the authorized user622) of theclient device958 must be authenticated before accessing thenetwork service954. In this process, the user typically presents multiple authentication factors to the system (e.g., user name and password). After the user is authenticated, thenetwork service954 transmits to theclient device958 data associated with the user's account, including information relating to theplatform32 that are associated with the user's account. The information may include, for example, the state (e.g., current location) and events relating to aparticular platform32, the physical route traveled by theplatform32 over time, stopover locations and durations, environmental conditions surrounding within a proximity of theplatforms32, and state and/or changes in state information (as measured by one or more sensors associated with the platform32). The information may be presented in a user interface on thedisplay968. State information (including location) may be presented in the user interface in any of a variety of different ways, including in a table, chart, or map. In some examples, the location and state data presented in the user interface are updated in real time.

In some embodiments, thenetwork service954 may track sensor data and determine such environmental factors as temperature, vibration, time, location, humidity, etc. of an environment surrounding the assets and/or packages theplatforms32 are attached thereto. In some embodiments, as discussed inFIG.5A-D, not every asset will have aplatform32 that includes a certain type of sensor or awireless transducing circuit10. Due to the stress of having awireless transducing circuit10, that include all available sensors, thewireless transducing circuits10 and sensors for particular types of sensor data collection will be distributed across a set ofplatforms32 of aroll116 according to a performance of sampling in time. For example, there may be a certain cycle time of shipments of packages and assets through a shipment facility, where every four minutes a package with aplatform32 attached thereto passes through the facility. Rather than attaching aplatform32 that includes a temperature sensor to every package that passes through the facility and measuring the temperature every 16 minutes; instead, one out of every four packages may have an attachedplatform32 with a temperature sensor embedded within. The temperature sensors may be spaced appropriately so that the temperature of the facility is measured every 16 minutes; or every fourth package with aplatform32 includes a temperature sensor. This approach reduces the cost of the temperature feature by 75%. In some embodiments, this approach of selectively embedding certain sensors within platforms may be considered for vibration sensors, clocks, etc.

In some embodiments, there aremore platforms32 with communication capabilities than with a certain type of sensor (e.g., temperature sensor). In this embodiment, theplatforms32 with communication capabilities, (e.g., the low, medium, or high-power wireless-communication interface or thecommunication modules12,14) determine whichplatforms32 within a proximity (e.g., 30 feet, within the same building, etc.) of them have a temperature sensor and then instruct theplatform32 with the temperature sensor to measure the temperature and transmit that sensor data toplatforms32 without the temperature sensor. In this embodiment, eachplatform32 with a temperature sensor will have a wireless-communications interface for transmitting the collected temperature data. Agents may delegate responsibilities toplatforms32 that have other types of sensors, e.g., vibration sensor, humidity sensor, etc. For example, to reduce the cost of communication, the sampling rate may dictate, based on a predetermined criteria, that one out of every fourplatforms32 include a particular wireless-communication interface (e.g., low, medium, and high-power wireless communication interfaces) that can communicate with the satellite960 (e.g., the high-power wireless-communications interface), while one out of twoplatforms32 include a wireless communication interface (e.g., low or medium wireless-communications interface) that allows theplatform32 to communicate withother platforms32 in a nearby area, such as within a shipping facility (e.g., the shipping facility704).

In some embodiments, aparticular platform32 may determine whichplatforms32 in a nearby area have a battery life that satisfies a battery threshold by instructing allplatforms32 within the nearby area to transmit their current battery levels to theparticular platform32. From this, the battery levels ofplatforms32 within the area may compare the battery levels to a predetermined battery level. For those platforms with battery levels not satisfying a threshold battery level, their battery may power down for an amount of time (e.g., an hour, two hours, etc.). Any sensor data collection will not include theplatforms32 that are powered down.

In some embodiments, sampling can be achieved by sampling the number of assets over a positional space, for example, by including sensors, clocks,wireless transducing circuits10 withinplatforms32, at certain positions throughout an environment (e.g., every column of a building within a shipping facility has aplatform32, every fifth column of a building has a platform, etc.). If vibration sensors are embedded withinplatforms32 to detect an earthquake at shipping facility, e.g., then a single or very few vibration sensors are required to detect the earthquake. In some embodiments, the rate of assets passing through a shipping facility may be known and theplatforms32 attached to columns may be programmed to collect temperature data associated withparticular platforms32 passing through the shipping facility. In this embodiment, when determining the sampling rate for applying wireless transducing circuits toplatforms32 on aroll116, the amount and position ofplatforms32 spread out at various checkpoints (e.g., shipping facility) for a particular shipping route may be considered. Likewise, for collecting temperature data, if the spatial distribution of assets and packages are known, the known spatial distribution can be leveraged to sample across the space of a location (e.g., the packages stored in a warehouse, where the boxes are stored 5 feet apart from each other in horizontal and vertical directions, such as on racks, so only one or very few of the boxes requires aplatform32 with a temperature sensor embedded therein).

In some embodiments, the sampling rate is determined for when packages are in-route within adelivery truck802, rather than for when the packages are stored within a warehouse (e.g.,manufacturing center620, shipping facility704) for a fixed amount of time. A sampling rate will be considered that achieves a high level of confidence that a desired environmental data will be collected by at least a single environmental sensor (e.g., temperature sensor, vibration sensor, etc.) embedded within a platform (e.g.,platforms32,34,36) in eachdelivery truck802. In a first example for determining a sampling rate, eachdelivery truck802 carries thirtypackages110, tenpackages110 perpallet806, and there are fourdelivery trucks802 out in the field, totaling one-hundred twentypackages110 on twelvepallets806. To guarantee at least one temperature sensor is in everydelivery truck802, then ninety-one out of the one-hundred twentypackages110 need to be equipped withplatforms32 that include a temperature sensor, or at least tenpallets806 will haveplatforms36 attached that include an embedded temperature sensor, or some combination thereof. In this case, the electronics sampling rate would result in aroll116 of platforms32 (e.g., the distribution ofwireless transducing units10 over acontinuous platform32,FIG.5A-D) that has twenty-nine blank tapes out of one-hundred twenty total tapes. In some embodiments, theplatforms32 may be applied to thepallet806 or theplatform36 may be attached to, or used to seal, apackage110.

In a second example, there may not be a need to guarantee that every delivery truck has aplatform32 with an embedded temperature sensor, e.g., if thepackages110 contain inexpensive goods. In this example, there are four delivery trucks each with thirty packages, totaling one-hundredpackages110. In this example, the number ofpackages110 withplatforms32 that have embedded temperature sensors is reduced because there is no need to guarantee that every delivery truck includes a temperature sensor. Therefore, the number of temperature sensors embedded withinplatforms32 onpackages110 is fewer than the ninety-one required in the example above. The sampling rate may depend on many factors, including the value of packaged goods, the likelihood that temperature will damage the packaged goods, the time thepackage110 will be in-route, etc.

In some embodiments, each roll116 (FIG.3) of continuous adhesive-tape platforms112 may be categorized with a unique identifier (e.g., identifier122) within a database (e.g., database of thenetwork1000 or network952) and have aroll116 for specific applications (e.g., a roll with temperature sensors, vibration sensors, etc.) or for specific shipping equipment (e.g., palettes, boxes, packages, etc.).Platforms32 within oneroll116 of tape may have different sensors to ensure that sensors can be statistically sampled. For example, aroll116 may include a temperature sensor in everythird platform32, a vibration sensor in everyfifth platform32, Bluetooth in everytwentieth platform32, etc., such that asingle roll116 ofplatforms32 may be applied to a set ofpackages110 and obtain multiple forms of environmental data.

In some embodiments, all theplatforms32 in aroll116 are assigned a same group identifier, e.g., based on the specific sensor embedded within the platform32 (vibration sensing tape nodes, light sensing tape nodes, temperature sensing tape node, etc.). In some embodiments, theroll116 may be categorized based on a specific function (e.g., measuring temperature data, trackingpackages110 in a nearby proximity, etc.) or based onplatforms32 that are assigned to a specific location (e.g.,platforms32 that are permanently attached to a building or are within a delivery truck, etc.). In some embodiments, aroll116 may be categorized based onplatforms32 that include awireless transducing circuit10 that include a specific frequency of data communications (e.g., communicates data 2 times per day, or communicates data every hour). In some embodiments,platforms32 that have a specific role in anetwork communications environment1000 ofplatforms32. In embodiments, aroll116 may be categorized based off of a unique identifier of each platform32 (e.g. mac address of wireless transducing circuit10). For example, a MAC address with a last digit or bit having a specific value may be assigned to aspecific roll116.

Platforms32 that are part of aroll116 may be addressed by the network952 (or network communications environment1000) by their group identifier. For example, thenetwork1000 may issue the same set of instructions to allplatforms32 within a roll116 (e.g., all tape nodes with a vibration sensor that have the same group identifier), e.g., to collect temperature data, vibration data, track a location of apackage110, etc. In some embodiments, the sampling frequency of sensors (e.g., temperature sensor, vibration sensor, etc.) inplatforms32 may vary. For example, some of theplatforms32 within aroll116 are empty (don't have wireless components or circuit components).

FIG.10 shows an examplenetwork communications environment1000 that includes anetwork1002 that supports communications between one ormore servers1004, communicatively coupled to adatabase1001, executing one ormore applications1006 of anetwork service1008, mobile gateways1010 (a smart device mobile gateway),1012 (a vehicle mobile gateway), astationary gateway1014, and various types of tape nodes that are associated with various assets (e.g., parcels, equipment, tools, persons, and other things). Hereinafter “tape nodes” may be used interchangeably with the “agents”, and “platforms”, as described above, with reference toFIGS.1-9; the “agents” are in the form of a “tape node” attached to different objects, e.g., an asset, storage container, vehicle, equipment, etc.; the master agent may be referred to as a master tape node, a secondary agent may be referred to as a secondary tape node; and a tertiary agent may be referred to as a tertiary tape node.

In some examples, the network1002 (e.g., a wireless network) includes one or more network communication systems and technologies, including any one or more of wide area networks, local area networks, public networks (e.g., the internet), private networks (e.g., intranets and extranets), wired networks, and wireless networks. For example, thenetwork1002 includes communications infrastructure equipment, such as a geolocation satellite system1070 (e.g., GPS, GLONASS, and NAVSTAR), cellular communication systems (e.g., GSM/GPRS), Wi-Fi communication systems, RF communication systems (e.g., LoRa), Bluetooth communication systems (e.g., a Bluetooth Low Energy system), Z-wave communication systems, and ZigBee communication systems.

In some examples, the one or more network service applications leverage the above-mentioned communications technologies to create a hierarchical wireless network of tape nodes improves asset management operations by reducing costs and improving efficiency in a wide range of processes, from asset packaging, asset transporting, asset tracking, asset condition monitoring, asset inventorying, and asset security verification. Communication across the network is secured by a variety of different security mechanisms. In the case of existing infrastructure, a communication link uses the infrastructure security mechanisms. In the case of communications among tapes nodes, the communication is secured through a custom security mechanism. In certain cases, tape nodes may also be configured to support block chain to protect the transmitted and stored data.

A network of tape nodes may be configured by the network service to create a hierarchical communications network. The hierarchy may be defined in terms of one or more factors, including functionality (e.g., wireless transmission range or power), role (e.g., master-tape node vs. peripheral-tape node), or cost (e.g., a tape node equipped with a cellular transceiver vs. a peripheral tape node equipped with a Bluetooth LE transceiver). As described above with reference to the agents, tape nodes may be assigned to different levels of a hierarchical network according to one or more of the above-mentioned factors. For example, the hierarchy may be defined in terms of communication range or power, where tape nodes with higher-power or longer-communication range transceivers are arranged at a higher level of the hierarchy than tape nodes with lower-power or lower-range power or lower range transceivers. In another example, the hierarchy is defined in terms of role, where, e.g., a master tape node is programmed to bridge communications between a designated group of peripheral tape nodes and a gateway node or server node. The problem of finding an optimal hierarchical structure may be formulated as an optimization problem with battery capacity of nodes, power consumption in various modes of operation, desired latency, external environment, etc. and may be solved using modern optimization methods e.g. neural networks, artificial intelligence, and other machine learning computing systems that take expected and historical data to create an optimal solution and may create algorithms for modifying the system's behavior adaptively in the field.

The tape nodes may be deployed by automated equipment or manually. In this process, a tape node typically is separated from a roll or sheet and adhered to a parcel (e.g., asset1020) or other stationary (e.g., stationary gateway1014) or mobile object or gateway (e.g., such as a delivery truck802) or stationary object (e.g., a structural element of a building within a shipping facility704). This process activates the tape node (e.g., the tape node1018) and causes thetape node1018 to communicate with the one ormore servers1004 of thenetwork service1008. In this process, thetape node1018 may communicate through one or more other tape nodes (e.g., thetape nodes1044,1046) in the communication hierarchy, that may be associated and categorized according to aroll116, as discussed above. In this process, the one ormore servers1004 executes thenetwork service application1006 to programmatically configuretape nodes1018,1024,1028,1044,1046, that are deployed in thenetwork communications environment1000, to collect, e.g., environmental data. Thesetape nodes1024,1028,1044,1046 may collected environmental data surrounding, or track,assets1034,1050,1056 that have been sealed with a dummy tape node (dummy platform)1032,1042,1048. In some examples, there are multiple classes or types of tape nodes (e.g., the master agent132, secondary agent136, or tertiary agent140), where each tape node class has a different respective set of functionalities and/or capacities, as described above with respect to the “agents” and “platforms” inFIGS.1-9. For example, the master agents132 (with reference toFIGS.1-3 and4A) have a lower-power wireless communication interface (e.g., the low-power wireless-communication interface52, with reference toFIG.4A), in comparison to the secondary and tertiary agents136,140 (with reference toFIGS.1-3 and4A-C).

In some examples, the one ormore servers1004 communicate over thenetwork1002 with one ormore gateways1010,1012,1014 that are configured to send, transmit, forward, or relay messages to thenetwork1002 in response to transmissions from thetape nodes1018,1024,1028,1044,1046 that are associated with respective assets and within communication range. Example gateways includemobile gateways1010,1012 and astationary gateway1014. In some examples, themobile gateways1010,1012, and thestationary gateway1014 are able to communicate with thenetwork1002 and with designated sets or groups of tape nodes.

In some examples, themobile gateway1012 is a vehicle (e.g., adelivery truck802 or other mobile hub) that includes awireless communications unit1016 that is configured by thenetwork service1008 to communicate with a designated network of tape nodes, including tape node1018 (e.g., a master tape node) in the form of a label that is adhered to a parcel1021 (e.g., an envelope) that contains anasset1020, and is further configured to communicate with thenetwork service1008 over thenetwork1002. In some examples, thetape node1018 includes a lower-power wireless-communications interface of the type used in, e.g., segment40 (shown inFIG.4A), and thewireless communications unit1016 may implemented by a secondary or tertiary tape node (e.g., one ofsegment70 orsegment80, respectively shown inFIGS.4B and4C) that includes a lower-power communications interface for communicating with tape nodes within range of themobile gateway1012 and a higher-power communications-interface for communicating with thenetwork1002. In this way, thetape node1018 andwireless communications unit1016 create a hierarchical wireless network of tape nodes for transmitting, forwarding, bridging, relaying, or otherwise communicating wireless messages to, between, or on behalf of thetape node1018 in a power-efficient and cost-effective way.

In some examples, amobile gateway1010 is a mobile phone that is operated by a human operator (e.g., an authorized user622) and executes aclient application1022 that is configured by a network service to communicate with a designated set of tape nodes, including a secondary ortertiary tape node1024 that is adhered to a parcel1026 (e.g., a box), and is further configured to communicate with aserver1004 over thenetwork1002. In the illustrated example, theparcel1026 contains a first parcel labeled or sealed by amaster tape node1028 and containing afirst asset1030, and a second parcel labeled or sealed by dummy node (“dummy platform”)1032 and containing asecond asset1034. The secondary ortertiary tape node1024 communicates with themaster tape node1028 and also communicates with themobile gateway1010. In some examples, each ofmaster tape node1028 includes a lower-power wireless-communications interface of the type used in, e.g., segment40 (shown inFIG.3A), and the secondary/tertiary tape node1024 is implemented by a tape node (e.g.,segment70 orsegment80, shown inFIGS.4B and4C) that includes a low-power communications interface for communicating with themaster tape node1028 contained within theparcel1026, and a higher-power communications interface for communicating with themobile gateway1010. The secondary ortertiary tape node1024 is operable to relay wireless communications between themaster tape node1028 contained within theparcel1026 and themobile gateway1010, and themobile gateway1010 is operable to relay wireless communications between the secondary ortertiary tape node1024 and theserver1004 over thenetwork1002. In this way, themaster tape node1028 and the secondary ortertiary tape node1024 create a wireless network of nodes for transmitting, forwarding, relaying, or otherwise communicating wireless messages to, between, or on behalf of themaster tape node1028, the secondary ortertiary tape node1024, and the network service (not shown) in a power-efficient and cost-effective way. The information transmitted and received from themaster tape node1028 may be of environmental data or tracking data relating to theasset1034.

In some examples, thestationary gateway1014 is implemented by aserver1004 executing anetwork service application1006 that is configured by thenetwork service1008 to communicate with a designatedset1040 ofmaster tape nodes1044,1046 anddummy nodes1042,1048 that are adhered toparcels containing assets1050,1052,1054,1056 on apallet1058. In other examples, thestationary gateway1014 is implemented by a secondary or tertiary tape node1060 (e.g.,segments70 or80, respectively shown inFIGS.4B and4C) that is adhered to, for example, a wall, column or other infrastructure component of the physical premise'senvironment1000, and includes a low-power communications interface for communicating with nodes within range of thestationary gateway1014 and a higher-power communications interface for communicating with thenetwork1002.

In one embodiment, each of themaster tape nodes1044,1046 is a master tape node and is configured by thenetwork service1008 to communicate individually with thestationary gateway1014, which relays communications from themaster tape nodes1044,1046 to thenetwork service1008 through thestationary gateway1014 and over thenetwork1002. In another embodiment, one of themaster tape nodes1044,1046 at a time is configured to transmit, forward, relay, or otherwise communicate wireless messages to, between, or on behalf of the other master node on thepallet1058. In this embodiment, the master tape node may be determined by themaster tape nodes1044,1046 or designated by thenetwork service1008. In some examples, themaster tape nodes1044,1046 with the longest range or highest remaining power level is determined to be the master tape node. In some examples, when the power level of the current master tape node drops below a certain level (e.g., a fixed power threshold level or a threshold level relative to the power levels of one or more of the other master tape nodes), another one of the master tape nodes assumes the role of the master tape node. In some examples, amaster tape node1059 is adhered to thepallet1058 and is configured to perform the role of a master node for the other master tape nodes1042-1048. In these ways, the master tape nodes1042-1048,1059 are configurable to create different wireless networks of nodes for transmitting, forwarding, relaying, bridging, or otherwise communicating wireless messages with thenetwork service1008 through thestationary gateway1014 and over thenetwork1002 in a power-efficient and cost-effective way.

In the illustrated example, thestationary gateway1014 also is configured by thenetwork service1008 to communicate with a designated network of tape nodes, including the secondary ortertiary tape node1060 that is adhered to the inside of adoor1062 of a shipping container1064 (e.g., shipping container702), and is further configured to communicate with thenetwork service1008 over thenetwork1002. In the illustrated example, theshipping container1064 contains a number of parcels, some of which are labeled or sealed by respective master tape nodes1066 and containing respective assets, and other of which are sealed with dummy nodes and containing respective assets. In some embodiments, there may be a single master node1066 collecting environmental and tracking data for each of the assets within theshipping container1064. The secondary ortertiary tape node1060 communicates with each of the master tape nodes1066 within theshipping container1064 and communicates with thestationary gateway1014. In some examples, each of the master tape nodes1066 includes a low-power wireless communications-interface (e.g., the low-power wireless-communication interface52, with reference toFIG.4A), and the secondary ortertiary tape node1060 includes a low-power wireless-communications interface (low-power wireless-communication interfaces52′,52″, with reference toFIGS.4B-C) for communicating with the master tape nodes1066 contained within theshipping container1064, and a higher-power wireless-communications interface (e.g., medium-power wireless-communication interface72′, medium-power wireless-communication interface72″, high-power wireless-communication interface82″, with reference toFIGS.4B-C) for communicating with thestationary gateway1014. In some examples, either a secondary or tertiary tape node, or both, may be used, depending on whether a high-power wireless-communication interface is necessary for sufficient communication.

In some examples, when the doors of theshipping container1064 are closed, the secondary ortertiary tape node1060 is operable to communicate wirelessly with the master tape nodes1066 contained within theshipping container1064. In some embodiments, both a secondary and a tertiary node are attached to theshipping container1064. Whether a secondary and a tertiary node are used may depend on the range requirements of the wireless-communications interface. For example, if out at sea, a node will be required to transmit and receive signals from a server located outside the range of a medium-power wireless-communications interface, a tertiary node will be used because the tertiary node includes a high-power wireless-communications interface that can communicate at longer ranges than the low or medium wireless-communications interface.

In an example, the secondary ortertiary tape node1060 is configured to collect sensor data from master tape nodes1066 and, in some embodiments, process the collected data to generate, for example, statistics from the collected data. When the doors of theshipping container1064 are open, the secondary ortertiary tape node1060 is programmed to detect the door opening (e.g., using a photodetector or an accelerometer component of the secondary or tertiary tape node1060) and, in addition to reporting the door opening event to thenetwork service1008, the secondary ortertiary tape node1060 is further programmed to transmit the collected data and/or the processed data in one or more wireless messages to thestationary gateway1014. Thestationary gateway1014, in turn, is operable to transmit the wireless messages received from the secondary ortertiary tape node1060 to thenetwork service1008 over thenetwork1002. Alternatively, in some examples, thestationary gateway1014 also is operable to perform operations on the data received from the secondary ortertiary tape node1060 with the same type of data produced by the secondary ortertiary tape node1060 based on sensor data collected from themaster tape nodes1046,1044. In this way, the secondary ortertiary tape node1060 and master tape node1066 create a wireless network of nodes for transmitting, forwarding, relaying, or otherwise communicating wireless messages to, between, or on behalf of the master tape node1066, the secondary ortertiary tape nodes1060, and thenetwork service1008 in a power-efficient and cost-effective way.

In an example of the embodiment shown inFIG.10, there are three types of backward compatible tape nodes: a short-range master tape node (e.g., segment40), a medium-range secondary tape node (e.g., segment70), and a long-range tertiary tape node (e.g. segment80), as respectively shown inFIGS.4A-4C (here, “tape node” is used interchangeably with “agent” and “platform”, as described above). The short-range master tape nodes typically are adhered directly to parcels containing assets. In the illustrated example, themaster tape nodes1018,1028,1044,1046,1066 are short-range tape nodes. The short-range tape nodes typically communicate with a low-power wireless-communication protocol (e.g., Bluetooth LE, Zigbee, or Z-wave). Thesegments70 are typically adhered to objects (e.g., aparcel1026, apallet1058, and a shipping container1064) that are associated with multiple parcels that are separated from the medium-range tape nodes by a barrier or a long distance. In the illustrated example, the secondary and/ortertiary tape nodes1024 and1060 are medium-range tape nodes. The medium-range tape nodes typically communicate with low and medium-power wireless-communication protocols (e.g., Bluetooth, LoRa, or Wi-Fi). Thesegments80 typically are adhered to mobile or stationary infrastructure of thenetwork communications environment1000.

In the illustrated example, themobile gateway1012 and thestationary gateway1014 are implemented by, e.g.,segment80. Thesegments80 typically communicate with other nodes using a high-power wireless-communication protocol (e.g., a cellular data communication protocol). In some examples, the wireless communications unit1016 (a secondary or tertiary tape node) is adhered to a mobile gateway1012 (e.g., a delivery truck802). In these examples, thewireless communications unit1016 may be moved to different locations in thenetwork communications environment1000 to assist in connecting other tape nodes to thewireless communications unit1016. In some examples, thestationary gateway1014 is a tape node that may be attached to a stationary structure (e.g., a wall within a shipping facility) in thenetwork communications environment1000 with a known geographic location (e.g., GPS coordinates). In these examples, other tape nodes in the environment may determine their geographic location by querying thestationary gateway1014.

In some examples, in order to conserve power, the tape nodes typically communicate according to a schedule promulgated by thenetwork service1008. The schedule usually dictates all aspects of the communication, including the times when particular tape nodes should communicate, the mode of communication, and the contents of the communication. In one example, the server (not shown) transmits programmatic Global Scheduling Description Language (GSDL) code to the master tape node and each of the secondary and tertiary tape nodes in the designated set, which may be organized according to anoriginating roll116 the tape nodes came from. In this example, execution of the GSDL code causes each of the tape nodes (e.g., from a particular roll116) in the designated set to connect to the master tape node at a different respective time that is specified in the GSDL code, and to communicate a respective set of one or more data packets of one or more specified types of information (e.g., temperature data, vibration data, tracking data, etc.) over the respective connection. In some examples, the master tape node simply forwards the data packets to theserver1004, either directly or indirectly through a gateway tape node (e.g., the long-range tape node, such aswireless communication unit1016, adhered to themobile gateway1012, or a long-range tape node, such asstationary gateway1014, that is adhered to an infrastructure component of the network communications environment1000). In other examples, the master tape node processes the information contained in the received data packets and transmits the processed information to theserver1004.

FIG.11 is a flowchart of anexample process1100 associated with a sampling system (e.g., the computing system320 or application1006) determining a sampling rate for applyingwireless transducing circuits10 to a set ofplatforms32 of aroll116 of adhesive tape. In some implementations, one or more process steps ofFIG.11 may be performed by an IoT sampling system. In some implementations, one or more process steps ofFIG.11 may be performed by another device or a group of devices separate from or including the IoT sampling system. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more steps ofFIG.11 may be performed by one or more components of computing system320, such as processing unit322, system memory324, persistent storage memory328, input component330, display monitor332 or968, and/or display controller334,application966, andclient device958.

As shown inFIG.11,process1100 may include an IoT sampling system determining (1110) based on a predetermined criteria, a sampling rate for distributing a wireless transducing circuit (e.g., the wireless transducing circuit10) per one or more platforms of a roll (e.g., the roll116) of an adhesive tape platform (e.g., any one ofplatforms32,34,36). For example, the IoT sampling system may determine based on a predetermined criteria, a sampling rate, as described above, with referent toFIG.5A-D. In some embodiments, the sampling rate may be based on a Nyquist rate. In some embodiments, theroll116 ofplatforms32 may categorized within a database (e.g., database1001) and eachplatform32 may include an identifier (e.g., the identifier122) that associates eachplatform32 with the category where information pertaining to theroll116 is stored in the database.

Each wireless transducing circuit may have an antenna, a communications unit, a processor, and a memory. In some embodiments, eachwireless transducing circuits10 within aroll116 will include the same sensors (e.g., aroll116 with exclusively temperature sensors, in addition to the antenna, communications unit, processor, and memory). In some embodiments, the sensors within the wireless transducing circuit includes at least one of capacitive sensor, an altimeter, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a temperature sensor, a strain sensor, a pressure sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, a weight sensor, an optical sensor, an acoustic sensor, a smoke detector, a radioactivity sensor, a chemical sensor, a biosensor, a magnetic sensor, an electromagnetic field sensor, and a humidity sensor.

In some embodiments, the predetermined criteria may include a desired type of data for collection (e.g., temperature data, vibration data, location data, humidity data, etc.), shipping route data (e.g., a travel route; predicted weather at various locations along the route; check points, such as shipping centers; etc.), a confidence threshold for having sensors capable of collected desired data, e.g., a lower confidence level will result in fewer sensors embedded within the wireless transducing circuits. Further, the predetermined criteria may include the value of an asset that theplatform32 is adhesively attached to. For example, the sampling rate may increase for higher valued goods and decrease for lower valued goods. For example, a lower confidence threshold that a sensor is embedded within aplatform32 attached to an asset, and capable of collecting environmental or tracking data of the asset, may be acceptable for inexpensive assets.

The predetermined criteria may further include whether an asset can degrade from environmental conditions, e.g., whether the asset may perish in high temperatures (e.g., flowers, food, etc.) or whether the asset can withstand humidity (e.g., metallic materials), and at what severity of the environmental conditions will degradation occur. For example, a lower confidence threshold may be selected for material that does not degrade from environmental conditions, such as scrap metal; whereas a high confidence level may be selected so that a sensor is embedded within aplatform32 attached to an asset in, e.g., every delivery truck or building for measuring environmental data, when the asset can degrade easily from environmental conditions. The predetermined criteria may further include weather conditions, such as humidity, temperature, etc., or historical data relating to likelihood of theft on a particular physical route. The predetermined criteria is not limited to the aforementioned examples.

In some embodiments, the different sensors embedded within wireless transducing circuits may alternate periodically or randomly. For example, the wireless transducing circuits may be distributed where every third one includes an embedded temperature sensor, every fifth one includes a vibration sensor, every tenth one includes Bluetooth, every twentieth one includes LoRa, etc. Any permutation of distribution the wireless transducing circuits across a roll of adhesive platforms, with different sensors, is contemplated within the scope of this disclosure.

In some embodiments, the one or more determined sampling rates may displayed within a client device (e.g.,client device958,1010) within the client application (e.g.,client application966,1022) for selection by an authorized user (e.g., the authorized user). For example, based on the predetermined criteria, the IoT sampling system may determine one or more sampling rates, each with a different cost or confidence level. For example, a first sampling rate may be a least expensive option that has a low confidence level; a second sampling rate may be more expensive than the first sampling rate but with a higher confidence level; and a third sampling rate may be the most expensive but with a guaranteed result of having awireless transducing circuit10 in proximity to every package within a shipment, to ensure provide accurate environmental and tracking data.

As further shown inFIG.11,process1100 may include applying (1120), based on the determined sampling rate, wireless transducing circuits to the one or more platforms of the roll of adhesive tape platforms, each platform having zero or more wireless transducing circuits. For example, the applying, based on the determined sampling rate, a wireless transducing circuit to the one or more platforms of the roll of adhesive tape platforms, each platform having zero or more wireless transducing circuits, as described above. In some embodiments, application of the wireless transducing circuits may be accomplished as described inFIG.1.

As further shown inFIG.11,process1100 may include activating (1130) the applied wireless transducing circuits. For example, the IoT sampling system may activate the wireless transducing circuits, as described above. In some embodiments, the activating occurs by separating (e.g., by cutting or tearing) theplatform32 that includes a wireless transducing circuit from a roll and adhering the platform to an asset (e.g., a package110), mobile object (e.g., such as a delivery truck802), or stationary object (e.g., a structural element of a building within a shipping facility704). This process activates the platform and causes the platform to communicate with the one or more servers (e.g., server1004) of a (e.g., network service1008).

Further, following activation, thewireless transducing circuits10 may notify a server (e.g., server1004) that a number ofwireless transducing circuits10 from aparticular roll116 have been activated. The transmission of the notification may depend on the wireless-communication interface capabilities (e.g., low, medium, or high-power wireless-communication interface) within thewireless transducing circuit10. For example, awireless transducing circuit10 with a high-power wireless-communication interface82″ may directly transmit the notification to the server. In some embodiments, activation may occur from an authorized user (e.g., authorized user622) scanning an identifier (e.g., identifier122) of theplatform32 using a client application (e.g.,client application966,1022) within a client device (e.g.,client device958,1010), and/or an electronic device. The client device may transmit information related to the wireless transducing circuits of the roll, obtained through scanning the identifier, through a network (e.g.,network952,1002) to the inventory management system (e.g., inventory management system954) for use by an application (e.g.,network service application962,1008) and/or for storage, categorized according to theroll116, within a database (database1001).

As further shown inFIG.11,process1100 may include instructing (1140) the wireless transducing circuits to perform a task. For example, the IoT sampling system may instruct the wireless transducing circuits to perform a task, as described above. In embodiments, the IoT sampling system may instruct the wireless transducing circuit to collect environmental data (e.g., temperature data, vibration data, humidity data, etc.) within a surrounding area. In embodiments, the instruction may be to determine a location, as discussed with reference toFIGS.9 and10, of the wireless transducing circuit and then transmit that location. In some embodiments, the wireless transducing circuit may determine that it does not possess the sensor required to complete the instruction, e.g., because the wireless transducing circuit is lacking a temperature sensor. In this case, the wireless transducing circuit may delegate the task to another wireless transducing circuit, to collect the required data upon completion by the other wireless transducing circuit. For example, the wireless transducing circuit may broadcast that it requires a temperature sensor; a nearby wireless transducing circuit may respond that it has the required sensor and can complete the task.

As further shown inFIG.11,process1100 may include receiving (1150) data collected from the wireless transducing circuits. For example, the IoT sampling system may receive data collected from the performed task, as described above.Process1100 may include additional embodiments, such as any single embodiment or any combination of embodiments described below and/or in connection with one or more other processes described elsewhere herein. AlthoughFIG.10 shows example blocks ofprocess1100, in some embodiments,process1100 may include additional steps, fewer steps, different steps, or differently arranged steps than those depicted inFIG.11. Additionally, or alternatively, two or more of the steps ofprocess1100 may be performed in parallel.

FIG.12 is a flowchart of anexample process1200 associated with a sampling system (e.g., the computing system320 or application1006) determining whether to reassign predetermined roles of the wireless transducing circuits based on not satisfying a target data acquisition. In some implementations, one or more process steps ofFIG.12 may be performed by an IoT sampling system. Further, the one or more process steps ofFIG.12 may be performed may be performed at any point in a shipping route, from the point of leaving a shipping facility, immediately after aplatform32 is applied to a parcel, to at the time of arriving at a final destination, and any time in between, e.g., at, before, or after leaving checkpoints, etc. In some implementations, one or more process steps ofFIG.12 may be performed by another device or a group of devices separate from or including the IoT sampling system. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more steps ofFIG.12 may be performed by one or more components of computing system320, such as processing unit322, system memory324, persistent storage memory328, input component330, display monitor332 or968, and/or display controller334,application966, andclient device958,1022.

As shown inFIG.12,process1200 may include an IoT sampling system identifying (1210) a set of wireless transducing circuits (e.g., wireless transducing circuits10) within an area (e.g., a manufacturing warehouse, ashipping center704, or atrailer804 of a delivery truck802). In embodiments, the IoT sampling system may designate a wireless transducing circuit, that includes a high-power wireless-communication interface capable of communicating with a satellite (e.g.,satellite960,1070) or network (e.g.,network952,1002), to identify the wireless transducing circuits within the area and their associated types of wireless-communication interfaces (low, medium, or high-power wireless-communication sensors, with reference toFIG.4A-C) and sensors (e.g., temperature sensor, vibration sensor, etc.). In some embodiments, the designated wireless transducing circuit may transmit compiled data associated with the identified wireless transducing circuits to the satellite or network (e.g.,network952,1002).

As shown inFIG.12,process1200 may include the IoT sampling system comparing (1220) the identified set of wireless transducing circuits within the area to a required set of wireless transducing circuits. In some embodiments, the required set of wireless transducing set may be the required number of wireless transducing circuits with particular sensors and/or types of wireless-communication interfaces to obtain a desired amount of environmental data and/or tracking data, which may be based on the predetermined criteria, as described above. For example, if the assets being delivered are sensitive to temperature, having at least one wireless transducing circuit, with an embedded temperature sensor and communication capabilities to transmit the collected temperature data within the area, is required to determine the temperature of the surrounding environment of the asset. Likewise, if the asset is extremely valuable, such as jewelry, having a wireless transducing circuit capable of transmitting precise location data or precise vibration data is required.

In some embodiments, the IoT sampling system determines a sampling frequency (e.g., density or ratio) of the identified set of wireless transducing circuits that include particular sensors and/or types of wireless-communication interfaces. For example, the IoT sampling system may determine the ratio (e.g., 1:4, 2:5, etc.) of identified wireless transducing circuits that include a temperature sensor, a vibration sensor, etc. to the total amount of identified wireless transducing circuits. Further, the determined ratio may include the total amount of dummy platforms to platforms that include a wireless transducing circuit, or the total amount of activated wireless transducing circuits to the total amount of deactivated wireless transducing circuits. Each determined ratio may be compared to a corresponding predetermined acceptable ratio. For example, the ratio of wireless transducing circuits that include a temperature to wireless transducing circuits without the temperature sensor may be compared to a predetermined ratio of wireless transducing circuits that include a temperature to wireless transducing circuits without the temperature sensor.

As shown inFIG.12,process1200 may include the IoT sampling system determining (1230), based on a difference between the identified set of wireless transducing circuits and the required set of wireless transducer circuits, that the target data acquisition will not be satisfied. For example, the difference may be, with reference to the above example, that the required set of wireless transducing circuits includes a temperature sensor embedded within at least one wireless transducing circuit, and the identified set of wireless transducing circuits does not include an embedded temperature sensor. In the embodiment of the IoT sampling system comparing the determined ratio to a predetermined ratio, the IoT sampling system may determine the difference (a difference resulting the determined ratio being higher or lower than the predetermined ratio) between the determined ratio to a predetermined ratio.

As shown inFIG.12,process1200 may include an IoT sampling system determining (1240) whether reassigning the predetermined roles of the set of wireless transducing circuits within the area would be sufficient to achieve the target data acquisition. For example, in the above example with the temperature sensor, it may not be possible to reassign any of the wireless transducing circuits to collect temperature because there are no temperature sensors embedding within any of the wireless transducing circuits. However, if location data is desired, and a wireless transducing circuit that includes a medium or high-power wireless-communication interface, which is required for transmitting the location data to the network, for example, is missing, then another wireless transducing circuit with a medium or high-power wireless-communication interface may replace the missing one. Likewise, if a temperature sensor is required and a wireless transducing circuit, with a temperature sensor and a predetermined role to collect temperature data, is missing, another wireless transducing circuit that includes a temperature sensor may be assigned a new role to collect temperature data. In some embodiments, the IoT sampling system may inquire whether stationary (e.g., stationary gateway1014) or mobile gateways (e.g.,mobile gateways1010,1012), e.g., depending on whether the assets are within a trailer or at a shipping center (with reference toFIG.10), can perform the predetermined role, in place of the wireless transducing circuit.

As shown inFIG.12, if the output of the inquiry for step (1240) is “yes”, theprocess1200 may proceed with the IoT sampling system reassigning (1250) the predetermined roles of the wireless transducing circuits within the area, or of any mobile and/or stationary gateways. For example, the IoT sampling system may designate a new wireless transducing circuit to collect temperature data. In some embodiments, the IoT sampling system may determine thatplatforms32 stationed at a warehouse (e.g., as described above) may be leveraged such that the IoT sampling system reassigns the stationary platform's predetermined roles to perform the role of the required wireless transducing circuit, if the platform includes the required type of sensor or wireless communications interface to perform the role. In some embodiments, if a confidence threshold is low and temperature collection is not necessary, or battery levels of nearby wireless transducing circuits that include the required type of sensor is low, the IoT sampling system may reference shipping route data to determine upcoming checkpoints, and delay reassigning role of the nearby wireless transducing circuits near the asset, and assign the role to the stationary platform that includes a wireless transducing circuit (e.g., that may have a permanent battery source) located at a checkpoint.

However, if the output of the inquiry for step (1240) is “no”, theprocess1200 may proceed with the IoT sampling system transmitting (1260) a notification to a client device (e.g.,client device958,1010) with instructions for display (e.g., display968) on how to satisfy the target data acquisition; the instructions are accessible within the client application (e.g.,client application966,1022). For example, the IoT sampling system may transmit instructions to a client device of an authorized user (e.g., driver of delivery truck802) to peel off a platform (e.g., platform32) from a roll (e.g., roll116) that includes a required wireless transducing circuit, e.g., with an embedded temperature, and apply the platform to a particular asset within the trailer (e.g., trailer804). In some embodiments, the IoT sampling system may determine a severity of not having the required wireless transducing circuit and include, within the notification, the determined severity.

In some embodiments where the IoT sampling system determines a ratio that does not satisfy a predetermined ratio, the instruction may be for the authorized user to apply new platforms from the roll that include wireless transducing circuits to parcels, in an amount that brings the determined ratio closer to the predetermined ratio. In some embodiments, the instructions may indicate which particular parcels to add the platforms to.

In some embodiments, the instructions may be for the authorized user to replace the current platforms on one or more parcels with one or more platforms from a roll (e.g., a new roll) that has a higher frequency/density of a particular type of sensor and/or wireless transducing circuit than was originally applied.

In an embodiment wherestep1230 results in the determined ratio being higher than the predetermined ratio (i.e., the sampling ratio of a particular sensor or wireless transducing circuit is higher than is needed), the instructions may be to remove platforms from the assets. For example, if the determined ratio of wireless transducing circuits with embedded temperature sensors to wireless transducing circuits without embedded temperature sensors is 1:4 and the predetermined ratio is 1:5, then there is more wireless transducing circuits with embedded temperature sensors than is necessary to collect temperature data. The instruction may be to remove a number of wireless transducing circuits from assets such that the predetermined ratio is approximately or equal to the predetermined ratio. In this embodiments, the platforms may be reclaimed and recycled/reused or refurbished. Additionally, in some embodiments, all platforms may be reclaimed and recycled/reused or refurbished.

In the embodiments of the platforms being removed, replaced or switched with platforms on other assets, or added to assets that do not include a platform, the IoT sampling system may be updated to reflect the change in the field so that the association between the platform (e.g., the hardware identifier) and the asset (e.g., tracking barcode) are up-to-date in the IoT sampling system. For example, the IoT sampling system may update its tracking system of every platform included or associated with an instruction to reflect the proposed instructions automatically or the IoT sampling system may receive an input from the authorized user that includes any changes the authorized user made to the platforms according to the instruction. For example, the IoT sampling system may automatically update the status of platforms to reflect any outputted instructions and then receive a confirmation from the authorized user that the instructions were carried out fully, or the authorized user may indicate which portions of the instructions were not followed.

In some embodiments, the platforms are color-coded, as described above, for quick identification and differentiation between dummy platforms and platforms that include particular sensors or wireless-communication interfaces. For example, the dummy platforms is be colored white, while a platform that includes a wireless transducing circuit, with an embedded temperature sensor, is be colored red. In this embodiment, the transmitted notification may include, rather than which sensor is required to apply to a particular asset, the color of the platform for the authorized user to apply to the asset.

In some embodiments, the IoT system may determine that the set of wireless transducing circuits matches the required set of wireless transducing circuits; however, the frequency of collecting temperature data (e.g., every two hours) is insufficient to determine an accurate temperature within a delivery truck, e.g., traveling through a desert with assets that are sensitive to temperature or location data is not accurate enough to determine the location of the delivery truck to within a thousand meters. In this embodiment, the IoT sampling system can reassign the predetermined roles of the wireless transducing circuits, with embedded temperature sensors, to increase the frequency of temperature data collection.

Exemplary Computer Apparatus

FIG.13 shows an example embodiment ofcomputer apparatus1320 that, either alone or in combination with one or more other computing apparatus, is operable to implement one or more of the computer systems described in this specification.

Thecomputer apparatus1320 includes aprocessing unit1322, a system memory1324, and asystem bus1326 that couples theprocessing unit1322 to the various components of thecomputer apparatus1320. Theprocessing unit1322 may include one or more data processors, each of which may be in the form of any one of various commercially available computer processors. The system memory1324 includes one or more computer-readable media that typically are associated with a software application addressing space that defines the addresses that are available to software applications. The system memory1324 may include a read only memory (ROM) that stores a basic input/output system (BIOS) that contains start-up routines for thecomputer apparatus1320, and a random-access memory (RAM). Thesystem bus1326 may be a memory bus, a peripheral bus, or a local bus, and may be compatible with any of a variety of bus protocols, including PCI, VESA, Microchannel, ISA, and EISA. Thecomputer apparatus1320 also includes a persistent storage memory1328 (e.g., a hard drive, a floppy drive, a CD ROM drive, magnetic tape drives, flash memory devices, and digital video disks) that is connected to thesystem bus1326 and contains one or more computer-readable media disks that provide non-volatile or persistent storage for data, data structures and computer-executable instructions.

A user may interact (e.g., input commands or data) with thecomputer apparatus1320 using one or more input devices1330 (e.g. one or more keyboards, computer mice, microphones, cameras, joysticks, physical motion sensors, and touch pads). Information may be presented through a graphical user interface (GUI) that is presented to the user on adisplay monitor1332, which is controlled by adisplay controller1334. Thecomputer apparatus1320 also may include other input/output hardware (e.g., peripheral output devices, such as speakers and a printer). Thecomputer apparatus1320 connects to other network nodes through a network adapter1336 (also referred to as a “network interface card” or NIC).

A number of program modules may be stored in the system memory1324, including application programming interfaces1338 (APIs), an operating system (OS)1340 (e.g., the Windows® operating system available from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Washington U.S.A.),software applications1341 including one or more software applications programming thecomputer apparatus1320 to perform one or more of the steps, tasks, operations, or processes of the positioning and/or tracking systems described herein, drivers1342 (e.g., a GUI driver),network transport protocols1344, and data1346 (e.g., input data, output data, program data, a registry, and configuration settings).

Examples of the subject matter described herein, including the disclosed systems, methods, processes, functional operations, and logic flows, may be implemented in data processing apparatus (e.g., computer hardware and digital electronic circuitry) operable to perform functions by operating on input and generating output. Examples of the subject matter described herein also may be tangibly embodied in software or firmware, as one or more sets of computer instructions encoded on one or more tangible non-transitory carrier media (e.g., a machine-readable storage device, substrate, or sequential access memory device) for execution by data processing apparatus.

The details of specific implementations described herein may be specific to particular embodiments of particular disclosures and should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any claimed disclosure. For example, features that are described in connection with separate embodiments may also be incorporated into a single embodiment, and features that are described in connection with a single embodiment may also be implemented in multiple separate embodiments. In addition, the disclosure of steps, tasks, operations, or processes being performed in a particular order does not necessarily require that those steps, tasks, operations, or processes be performed in the particular order; instead, in some cases, one or more of the disclosed steps, tasks, operations, and processes may be performed in a different order or in accordance with a multi-tasking schedule or in parallel.

Changes may be made in the above methods and systems without departing from the scope hereof. It should thus be noted that the matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The following claims are intended to cover all generic and specific features described herein, as well as all statements of the scope of the present method and system, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Claims (25)

What is claimed is:

1. An IoT sampling system, comprising:

a set of adhesive tape platforms, each adhesive tape platform having zero or more wireless transducing circuits applied according to a sampling frequency that is based on a predetermined criteria, each applied wireless transducing circuit further having a predetermined role and one or more features based on the predetermined criteria, the sampling frequency defining a ratio of the zero or more wireless transducing circuits that include a sensor and/or type of wireless-communication interface.

2. The IOT sampling system ofclaim 1, wherein the set of adhesive tape platforms are disposed in a form of a dispensable roll of adhesive tape platforms, in a form of a sheet of adhesive tape platforms that includes cutouts defining a perimeter of each of the adhesive tape platforms, or is in a form of a continuous strip of adhesive tape platforms, each adhesive tape platform included in a segment of the strip.

3. The IoT sampling system ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the adhesive tape platforms of the set of adhesive tape platforms includes a wireless transducing circuit that includes a wireless-communication interface communicatively coupled with a remote server or nearby wireless transducing circuits.

4. The IoT sampling system ofclaim 1, wherein the predetermined criteria includes an environmental data type, shipping route, and confidence level of satisfying a target data acquisition.

5. The IoT sampling system ofclaim 1, wherein the features includes at least a wireless-communication interface and zero or more sensors embedded within the wireless transducing circuits.

6. The IoT sampling system ofclaim 1, wherein the wireless transducing circuits are configured to reassign their predetermined roles based on a target data acquisition.

7. The IoT sampling system ofclaim 1, wherein the predetermined role is for a first wireless-communication interface of a first wireless transducing circuit, operable to communicate with a second wireless-communication interface of a second wireless transducing circuit, to transmit data, from the first wireless-communication interface, to the second wireless-communication interface.

8. The IoT sampling system ofclaim 7, wherein the first wireless-communication interface is operable to identify the second wireless-communication interface, determine battery levels of the first wireless transducing circuit and the second wireless transducing circuit, and given the battery level of the second wireless transducing circuit satisfying a threshold, the first wireless transducing circuit delegating communication responsibilities to the second wireless transducing circuit, and the first wireless transducing circuit powers down.

9. The IoT sampling system ofclaim 7, wherein the first wireless transducing circuit is operable to delegate the predetermined role of the first wireless transducing circuit to the second wireless transducing circuit.

10. The IoT sampling system ofclaim 9, wherein the second wireless transducing circuit is operable to obtain sensor data collected within a surrounding environment of the second wireless transducing circuit and communicate the sensor data to the first wireless transducing circuit.

11. The IoT sampling system ofclaim 1, wherein the predetermined role is to transmit sensor data to a remote server, the sensor data is collected from at least one sensor embedded within the wireless transducing circuit.

12. The IoT sampling system ofclaim 11, wherein the one or more sensors embedded within the wireless transducing circuit includes at least one of a capacitive sensor, an altimeter, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a temperature sensor, a strain sensor, a pressure sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, a weight sensor, an optical sensor, an acoustic sensor, a smoke detector, a radioactivity sensor, a chemical sensor, a biosensor, a magnetic sensor, an electromagnetic field sensor, and a humidity sensor.

13. A method, comprising:

determining, by an IoT sampling system, based on a predetermined criteria, a sampling rate for distributing wireless transducing circuits per one or more platforms of a set of adhesive tape platforms;

applying, based on the determined sampling rate, the wireless transducing circuits to the one or more platforms, each platform having zero or more wireless transducing circuits;

activating, by the IoT sampling system, the applied wireless transducing circuits;

instructing, by the IoT sampling system, the wireless transducing circuits to perform a predetermined role; and

receiving, by the IoT sampling system, data collected from the wireless transducing circuits.

14. The method ofclaim 13, comprising:

determining, by the wireless transducing circuit, that a first wireless transducing circuit does not have a required component to complete a first predetermined role;

broadcasting, by the first wireless transducing circuit, to a second wireless transducing circuit that includes the required component to complete the predetermined role,

delegating, by the first wireless transducing circuit, the predetermined role to the second wireless transducing circuit.

15. The method ofclaim 14, further comprising:

receiving, by the first wireless transducing circuit, from the second wireless transducing circuit, a desired type of data collected according to the predetermined role.

16. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the sampling rate is according to a Nyquist rate.

17. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the determining the sampling rate includes determining one or more sampling rates, the method further comprising:

displaying, within a client device, the one or more sampling rates; and

receiving, from the client device, a selection of one of the one or more sampling rates.

18. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the predetermined role is to collect sensor data from one or more sensors within the wireless transducing circuit at the one or more points in time, from a surrounding environment of the wireless transducing circuit.

19. The method ofclaim 18, wherein the one or more sensors within the wireless transducing circuit includes at least one of capacitive sensor, an altimeter, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a temperature sensor, a strain sensor, a pressure sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, a weight sensor, an optical sensor, an acoustic sensor, a smoke detector, a radioactivity sensor, a chemical sensor, a biosensor, a magnetic sensor, an electromagnetic field sensor, and a humidity sensor.

20. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the sampling rate further includes a distribution of zero or more electrical components embedded within the applied wireless transducing circuits.

21. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the instructed predetermined role is based on a target data acquisition that includes location and environmental data collection, the method further comprising:

identifying, by the IoT sampling system, a set of wireless transducing circuits within an area;

comparing, by the IoT sampling system, the identified set of wireless transducing circuits within the area to a required set of wireless transducing circuits;

determining, by the IoT sampling system, based on the comparing, the target data acquisition will not be satisfied; and

responsive to determining that the target data acquisition will not be satisfied, either (i) reassigning, by the IoT sampling system, the predetermined roles of the identified wireless transducing circuits or (ii) transmitting, by the IoT sampling system, a notification, to display within a client device, that includes instructions for achieving the target data acquisition.

22. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, storing a computer instruction, wherein the computer instruction, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to perform operations, comprising:

determining, by an IoT sampling system, based on a predetermined criteria, a sampling rate for distributing wireless transducing circuits per one or more platforms of a set of adhesive tape platforms;

applying, based on the determined sampling rate, the wireless transducing circuits to one or more platforms of the set of adhesive tape platforms, each platform having zero or more wireless transducing circuits;

activating, by the IoT sampling system, the applied wireless transducing circuits;

instructing, by the IoT sampling system, the wireless transducing circuits to perform a predetermined role; and

receiving, by the IoT sampling system, data collected from the wireless transducing circuits.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium ofclaim 22, further comprising computer instruction that, when executed by the computer, causes the computer to perform operations including:

determining, by the IoT sampling system, that a first wireless transducing circuit does not have a required component to complete a first predetermined role;

broadcasting, by the first wireless transducing circuit, to a second wireless transducing circuit that includes the required component to complete the predetermined role,

delegating, by the first wireless transducing circuit, the predetermined role to the second wireless transducing circuit.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium ofclaim 22, further comprising:

receiving, by the wireless transducing circuit, from the other wireless transducing circuit, the data collected.

25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium ofclaim 22, wherein the instructed predetermined role is based on a target data acquisition that includes location and environmental data collection, the method further comprising computer instruction that, when executed by the computer, causes the computer to perform operations including:

identifying, by the IoT sampling system, a set of wireless transducing circuits within an area;

comparing, by the IoT sampling system, the identified set of wireless transducing circuits within the area to a required set of wireless transducing circuits;

determining, by the IoT sampling system, based on the comparing, the target data acquisition will not be satisfied; and

responsive to determining that the target data acquisition will not be satisfied, either (i) reassigning, by the IoT sampling system, the predetermined roles of the identified wireless transducing circuits or (ii) transmitting, by the IoT sampling system, a notification, to display within a client device, that includes instructions for achieving the target data acquisition.

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